Tunable structural and magnetic properties of NiAs-type MnxSb (1.00≤x≤1.30) compounds

Mn-based alloys can exhibit a variety of magnetic properties related to their tunable exchange interactions. In this work, structural and magnetic properties of hexagonal NiAs-type MnxSb (1.00≤x≤1.30) compounds are studied with a combination of X-ray diffraction, neutron diffraction, and magnetic measurements. It is found that the magnetization, Curie temperature, and magnetocrystalline anisotropy of MnxSb compounds can be tuned by controlling Mn concentration and doping at interstitial (2d) sites. With increasing Mn concentration, magnetic moments of Mn atoms decrease and deviate gradually from the ab-plane to the c-axis for 1.20≤x≤1.22 at room temperature, which leads to a decrease of the Curie temperature Tc and the spin reorientation temperature TSR. By doping with nonmagnetic elements, a substantial room-temperature magnetocaloric effect without magnetic hysteresis was achieved for Mn1.12Zr0.1Sb compound, which is highly beneficial to the practical magnetic refrigeration application. •Magnetic structures and properties of MnxSb were studied using neutron diffraction and magnetic measurements.•Spin reorientation temperature of MnxSb can be tuned by controlling Mn concentration.•RT magnetocaloric effect was achieved in Mn1.12Zr0.1Sb compound.