Magnetic and anomalous transport properties in Fe2MnAl

This study investigated the magnetism and anomalous transport properties of the melt-spun ribbon Fe2MnAl alloy. It is found that the alloy exhibits ferromagnetic order with the Curie temperature of ∼150 K, followed by another magnetic transition at TR ∼ 51 K. It is suggested there is antiferromagnetism pinning effect on the ferromagnetic matrix at the temperature below TR. A steep rise of the resistance below TR has been observed, which can be understood in terms of antiferromagnetic scattering. An appearance of the resistance maximum near the Curie temperature and the negative temperature dependence of the resistance above Curie temperature are associated with the magnetic phase transition from ferromagnetism to paramagnetism. A negative magnetoresistance at low temperature arising from inhomogeneous magnetic scattering is reported.

Research highlights▶ A metal–insulator transition is observed accompanied with low temperature magnetic transition at TR. ▶ The steep rise of the resistance below TR is attributed to antiferromagnetic scattering. ▶ A maximum resistance at Curie temperature was obtained. ▶ GMR behavior is attributed to the inhomogeneous magnetism structure.