Abstract:
Local phase separation displayed by the A site doped Mn sub(3)Sn sub(1-x)A sub(x)C antiperovskites is investigated by studying a series of compounds wherein, the doped A site atoms inflicts changes in electronic contribution to the valence band while keeping the average size of the A site similar (In for Sn), or the size of the A-site atom is varied while maintaining the electronic density constant (Ge for Sn) or both, size and electronic density are varied (Zn for Sn). The study shows that the phase separation is a result of varied distortion of MnC octahedra due to the difference in the packing fractions of the unit cells. This distortions of the Mn sub(6)C octahedra are responsible for the observed magnetic properties of these antiperovskite compounds.
