Abstract:
A systematic study of crystal structure, local structure, magnetic and transport properties in quenched and temper annealed Ni sub(2-x) Mn sub(1+x) Sn alloys indicate the formation of Mn sub(3) Sn type structural defects caused by an antisite disorder between Mn and Sn occupying the Y and Z sublattices of X sub(2) YZ Heusler structure. The antisite disorder is caused by the substitution of Ni by Mn at the X sites. On temper annealing, these defects segregate and phase separate into L2 sub(1) Heusler and D0 sub(19) Mn sub(3) Sn type phases.
