Structural and magnetic properties of MnCo1−x V x Ge compounds

Abstract: The structural and magnetic properties of MnCo1−x V x Ge (x =0.00, 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, 0.08, 0.10, 0.20 and 0.30) compounds were investigated by means of X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and magnetization measurements. The MnCo1−x V x Ge compounds crystallize in the orthorhombic TiNiSi-type crystal structure for x ≤0.02 and in the hexagonal Ni2In-type structure for x >0.02. The magnetization measurements show that the MnCo1−x V x Ge compounds exhibit a complex magnetic behavior. The Curie temperature can be tuned from 360K to 148K by increasing x. The maximal magnetic-entropy change is 3.9J/kgK for x =0.06 at a field change from 0 to 1.5T at about 265K. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]