APL Materials (Aug 2016)

Thin film synthesis and characterization of a chemically ordered magnetic nanolaminate (V,Mn)3GaC2

  • Q. Tao,
  • R. Salikhov,
  • A. Mockute,
  • J. Lu,
  • M. Farle,
  • U. Wiedwald,
  • J. Rosen

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4961502
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 4, no. 8
pp. 086109 – 086109-5

Abstract

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We report on synthesis and characterization of a new magnetic nanolaminate (V,Mn)3GaC2, which is the first magnetic MAX phase of a 312 stoichiometry. Atomically resolved energy dispersive X-ray mapping of epitaxial thin films reveals a tendency of alternate chemical ordering between V and Mn, with atomic layers composed of primarily one element only. Magnetometry measurements reveal a ferromagnetic response between 50 K and 300 K, with indication of a magnetic ordering temperature well above room temperature.