Nano-structuring of all-d-metal NiCoMnTi-based Heusler compounds

Abstract

The emerging all-d-metal Ni(Co)MnTi-based Heusler compounds attract extensive attention because it can potentially be employed for solid-state refrigeration. However, in comparison to the abundant physical functionalities in bulk conditions, the hidden properties related to the NiCoMnTi-based Heusler nanoparticles (NPs) have not yet been investigated experimentally. Here, we present NiCoMnTi Heusler NPs that have been manufactured by spark ablation under Ar gas flow, and the related magnetic and microstructural properties have been studied. Compared with the bulk sample, it is found that the magneto-structurally coupled transition in the bulk sample has collapsed into a magnetic transition for the NPs sample. Superparamagnetic NPs with widely distributed dislocations have directly been observed by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. For the NPs, the magnetocrystalline anisotropy constant is 3.54 × 104 J/m3, while the saturation magnetization after post-treatment has been estimated to be around 26 Am2 kg−1. Our current research reveals that Ni-Co-Mn-Ti-based quaternary NPs could show interesting properties for future nano-application, and the produced NPs will further expand the functionalities of this material family.