Magnetic anisotropy in Cr2GeC investigated by X-ray magnetic circular dichroism and ab initio calculations

•The magnetism in the inherently nanolaminated ternary MAX-phase Cr2GeC is investigated.•The Cr magnetic moments are an order of magnitude stronger in the planes than along the vertical axis.•A non-spin-collinear component spin distortion generates an overall residual spin moment inside the unit cel...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of magnetism and magnetic materials 2020-05, Vol.501, p.166470, Article 166470
Main Authors: Magnuson, Martin, Mattesini, Maurizio
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Chromium
Dichroism
Ferromagnetism
Magnetic anisotropy
Magnetic moments
Magnetic properties
Magnetism
Planes
Soft x rays
Temperature dependence
Temperature effects
Ternary systems
Unit cell
X ray absorption
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Summary:•The magnetism in the inherently nanolaminated ternary MAX-phase Cr2GeC is investigated.•The Cr magnetic moments are an order of magnitude stronger in the planes than along the vertical axis.•A non-spin-collinear component spin distortion generates an overall residual spin moment inside the unit cell resembling that of a ferri-magnet. The magnetism in the inherently nanolaminated ternary MAX-phase Cr2GeC is investigated by element-selective, polarization and temperature-dependent, soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy and X-ray magnetic circular dichroism. The measurements indicate an antiferro-magnetic Cr-Cr coupling along the c-axis of the hexagonal structure modulated by a ferromagnetic ordering in the nanolaminated ab-basal planes. The weak chromium magnetic moments are an order of magnitude stronger in the nanolaminated planes than along the vertical axis. Theoretically, a small but notable, non-spin-collinear component explains the existence of a non-perfect spin compensation along the c-axis. As shown in this work, this spin distortion generates an overall residual spin moment inside the unit cell resembling that of a ferri-magnet. Due to the different competing magnetic interactions, electron correlations and temperature effects both need to be considered to achieve a correct theoretical description of the Cr2GeC magnetic properties.
ISSN:0304-8853
1873-4766
DOI:10.1016/j.jmmm.2020.166470