Magnetism of hexagonal Mn{sub 1.5}X{sub 0.5}Sn (X = Cr, Mn, Fe, Co) nanomaterials

Mn{sub 1.5}X{sub 0.5}Sn (X = Cr, Mn, Fe, Co) nanomaterials in the hexagonal Ni{sub 2}In-type crystal structure have been prepared using arc-melting and melt spinning. All the rapidly quenched Mn{sub 1.5}X{sub 0.5}Sn alloys show moderate saturation magnetizations with the highest value of 458 emu/cm{sup 3} for Mn{sub 1.5}Fe{sub 0.5}Sn, but their Curie temperatures are less than 300 K. All samples except the Cr containing one show spin-glass-like behavior at low temperature. The magnetic anisotropy constants calculated from the high-field magnetization curves at 100 K are on the order of 1 Merg/cm{sup 3}. The vacuum annealing of the ribbons at 550 °C significantly improved their magnetic properties with the Curie temperature increasing from 206 K to 273 K for Mn{sub 1.5}Fe{sub 0.5}Sn.