Effect of Cr substitution on the magnetic and magnetic-transport properties of Fe2Mn1-xCrxSi alloys

Fe2Mn1-xCrxSi (x = 0, 0.1, and 0.2) alloys were investigated for their magnetic and transport properties in view of the expected half metallicity. It is found that Cr substitution suppresses the antiferromagnetic phase present in parent Fe2MnSi, which completely disappears for x = 0.2. Curie temperature of the alloys increases from 230 K to 299 K as x is increased from 0 to 0.2. The value of the Rhodes-Wohlfarth ratio indicates that the system shows iterant magnetism. Resistivity measurements also show absence of antiferromagnetic phase for x = 0.2. Resistivity data have been fitted by considering the electron-phonon and electron-magnon scattering contributions, which indicates the presence of half metallicity in these compounds. Temperature dependence of resistivity data shows magnetoresistance of −3% and −2.5% at Curie temperature with applied field of 50 kOe for x = 0.1 and 0.2, respectively.