Magnetic phase diagram of the solid solution LaMn
2(Ge
1-xSi
x)
2 (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) unraveled by powder neutron diffraction.
Sci Rep 2022;
12:9248. [PMID:
35665754 PMCID:
PMC9166718 DOI:
10.1038/s41598-022-12549-y]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The structural and magnetic properties of the ThCr2Si2-type solid solution LaMn2(Ge1−xSix)2 (x = 0.0 to 1.0) have been investigated employing a combination of X-ray diffraction, magnetization and neutron diffraction measurements, which allowed establishing a magnetic composition-temperature phase diagram. Substitution of Ge by Si leads to a compression of the unit cell, which affects the magnetic exchange interactions. In particular, the magnetic structure of LaMn2(Ge1−xSix)2 is strongly affected by the unit cell parameter c, which is related to the distance between adjacent Mn layers. Commensurate antiferromagnetic layers and a canted ferromagnetic structure dominate the Si-rich part of the solid solution, whilst an incommensurate antiferromagnetic flat spiral and a conical magnetic structure are observed in the Si-poor part.
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