Effect of N, C, and B interstitials on the structural and magnetic properties of alloys with Cu_{3}Au structure

High-throughput density functional calculations are used to investigate the effect of interstitial B, C, and N atoms on 21 alloys reported to crystallize in the cubic Cu_{3}Au structure. It is shown that the interstitials can have a significant impact on the magnetocrystalline anisotropy energy (MAE...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Ingo Opahle, Harish K. Singh, Jan Zemen, Oliver Gutfleisch, Hongbin Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: American Physical Society 2020-05-01
Series:Physical Review Research
Online Access:http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.2.023134
_version_ 1797211466872389632
author Ingo Opahle
Harish K. Singh
Jan Zemen
Oliver Gutfleisch
Hongbin Zhang
author_facet Ingo Opahle
Harish K. Singh
Jan Zemen
Oliver Gutfleisch
Hongbin Zhang
author_sort Ingo Opahle
collection DOAJ
description High-throughput density functional calculations are used to investigate the effect of interstitial B, C, and N atoms on 21 alloys reported to crystallize in the cubic Cu_{3}Au structure. It is shown that the interstitials can have a significant impact on the magnetocrystalline anisotropy energy (MAE), the thermodynamic stability, and the magnetic ground-state structure, making these alloys interesting for hard magnetic, magnetocaloric, and other applications. For 29 alloy-interstitial combinations the formation of stable alloys with interstitial concentrations above 5% is expected. In Ni_{3}Mn interstitial N induces a tetragonal distortion with substantial uniaxial MAE for realistic N concentrations. Mn_{3}XN_{x} (X = Rh, Ir, Pt, and Sb) compounds are identified as alloys with strong magnetocrystalline anisotropy. For Mn_{3}Ir we find a strong enhancement of the MAE upon N alloying in the most stable collinear ferrimagnetic state as well as in the noncollinear magnetic ground state. Mn_{3}Ir and Mn_{3}IrN also show interesting topological transport properties. The effects of N concentration and strain on the magnetic properties are discussed. Further, the huge impact of N on the MAE of Mn_{3}Ir and a possible impact of interstitial N on amorphous Mn_{3}Ir, a material that is indispensable in today's data storage devices, are discussed in relation to the electronic structure. For Mn_{3}Sb, noncollinear, ferrimagnetic, and ferromagnetic states are very close in energy, making this material potentially interesting for magnetocaloric applications. For the investigated Mn alloys and competing phases, the determination of the magnetic ground state is essential for a reliable prediction of the phase stability.
first_indexed 2024-04-24T10:26:57Z
format Article
id doaj.art-5402b0bd01874080a9897f1d9a5afb53
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2643-1564
language English
last_indexed 2024-04-24T10:26:57Z
publishDate 2020-05-01
publisher American Physical Society
record_format Article
series Physical Review Research
spelling doaj.art-5402b0bd01874080a9897f1d9a5afb532024-04-12T16:53:37ZengAmerican Physical SocietyPhysical Review Research2643-15642020-05-012202313410.1103/PhysRevResearch.2.023134Effect of N, C, and B interstitials on the structural and magnetic properties of alloys with Cu_{3}Au structureIngo OpahleHarish K. SinghJan ZemenOliver GutfleischHongbin ZhangHigh-throughput density functional calculations are used to investigate the effect of interstitial B, C, and N atoms on 21 alloys reported to crystallize in the cubic Cu_{3}Au structure. It is shown that the interstitials can have a significant impact on the magnetocrystalline anisotropy energy (MAE), the thermodynamic stability, and the magnetic ground-state structure, making these alloys interesting for hard magnetic, magnetocaloric, and other applications. For 29 alloy-interstitial combinations the formation of stable alloys with interstitial concentrations above 5% is expected. In Ni_{3}Mn interstitial N induces a tetragonal distortion with substantial uniaxial MAE for realistic N concentrations. Mn_{3}XN_{x} (X = Rh, Ir, Pt, and Sb) compounds are identified as alloys with strong magnetocrystalline anisotropy. For Mn_{3}Ir we find a strong enhancement of the MAE upon N alloying in the most stable collinear ferrimagnetic state as well as in the noncollinear magnetic ground state. Mn_{3}Ir and Mn_{3}IrN also show interesting topological transport properties. The effects of N concentration and strain on the magnetic properties are discussed. Further, the huge impact of N on the MAE of Mn_{3}Ir and a possible impact of interstitial N on amorphous Mn_{3}Ir, a material that is indispensable in today's data storage devices, are discussed in relation to the electronic structure. For Mn_{3}Sb, noncollinear, ferrimagnetic, and ferromagnetic states are very close in energy, making this material potentially interesting for magnetocaloric applications. For the investigated Mn alloys and competing phases, the determination of the magnetic ground state is essential for a reliable prediction of the phase stability.http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.2.023134
spellingShingle Ingo Opahle
Harish K. Singh
Jan Zemen
Oliver Gutfleisch
Hongbin Zhang
Effect of N, C, and B interstitials on the structural and magnetic properties of alloys with Cu_{3}Au structure
Physical Review Research
title Effect of N, C, and B interstitials on the structural and magnetic properties of alloys with Cu_{3}Au structure
title_full Effect of N, C, and B interstitials on the structural and magnetic properties of alloys with Cu_{3}Au structure
title_fullStr Effect of N, C, and B interstitials on the structural and magnetic properties of alloys with Cu_{3}Au structure
title_full_unstemmed Effect of N, C, and B interstitials on the structural and magnetic properties of alloys with Cu_{3}Au structure
title_short Effect of N, C, and B interstitials on the structural and magnetic properties of alloys with Cu_{3}Au structure
title_sort effect of n c and b interstitials on the structural and magnetic properties of alloys with cu 3 au structure
url http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.2.023134
work_keys_str_mv AT ingoopahle effectofncandbinterstitialsonthestructuralandmagneticpropertiesofalloyswithcu3austructure
AT harishksingh effectofncandbinterstitialsonthestructuralandmagneticpropertiesofalloyswithcu3austructure
AT janzemen effectofncandbinterstitialsonthestructuralandmagneticpropertiesofalloyswithcu3austructure
AT olivergutfleisch effectofncandbinterstitialsonthestructuralandmagneticpropertiesofalloyswithcu3austructure
AT hongbinzhang effectofncandbinterstitialsonthestructuralandmagneticpropertiesofalloyswithcu3austructure