Magnetic ordering in the nanolaminated MAX phase (Mn,Cr)2GaC

MAX phases are a class of intrinsically nanolaminated materials which combine features of metals and ceramics, owing to the alternating metallic and covalent bonding between layers. Magnetic MAX phases have been known for a decade but ferromagnetism at room temperature has been elusive, limiting their value as magnets in practice. We have shown for the first time that a MAX phase with a strong ferromagnetic-like response is obtained by alloying with Cr on the M-site in (Mn,Cr)2GaC up to temperatures well exceeding room temperature (489 K). However, the exact nature of the magnetic ordering is unknown and neutron diffraction measurements are required to determine if the ordering is ferromagnetic, ferrimagnetic or some other more complex non-collinear order. We propose performing single-crystal neutron diffraction measurements at the WISH beamline to determine the magnetic ordering and explain the origin of the high remanent moment. This will allow the continued optimization of this complex alloy, with potential applications ranging from bulk magnets in power electronics to spintronic devices.