Large Coercivity in Nanostructured Rare-earth-free MnxGa Films

TL;DR

This study demonstrates that nanostructured MnxGa films exhibit exceptionally high coercivity, comparable to rare-earth magnets, due to nanoscale particle size and anisotropy, with potential for rare-earth-free magnetic applications.

Contribution

It reveals that nanoscale MnxGa films achieve large coercivity surpassing epitaxial and bulk forms, highlighting the role of particle size and anisotropy in magnetic performance.

Findings

Coercivity up to 2.5 T in nanostructured MnxGa films

Enhanced coercivity linked to nanoparticle size and anisotropy

Large coercivity reflected in anomalous Hall effect measurements

Abstract

The magnetic hysteresis of MnxGa films exhibit remarkably large coercive fields as high as 2.5 T when fabricated with nanoscale particles of a suitable size and orientation. This coercivity is an order of magnitude larger than in well-ordered epitaxial film counterparts and bulk materials. The enhanced coercivity is attributed to the combination of large magnetocrystalline anisotropy and ~ 50 nm size nanoparticles. The large coercivity is also replicated in the electrical properties through the anomalous Hall effect. The magnitude of the coercivity approaches that found in rare-earth magnets, making them attractive for rare-earth-free magnet applications.