Magnetic and structural properties of Mn1−xCrxAlGe (0 ≤ x ≤ 1.0)

The magnetic and structural properties of Mn1−xCrxAlGe (0 ≤ x ≤ 1.0) compounds were investigated. The spontaneous magnetization Ms and Curie temperature TC of Mn1−xCrxAlGe has a cusp at x = 0.2. The maximum values of Ms and TC are 1.74 μB/f.u. and 601 K, respectively. It was found that the tetragonal Cu2Sb-type structure was stable for 0 ≤  x ≤ 0.75, whereas orthorhombic TiSi2-type structure was observed for x ≥ 0.8. The reciprocal susceptibility as a function of temperature suggested that the magnetic moment of Cr is antiferromagnetically coupled with that of Mn in Cu2Sb-type structure.