Magnetic properties of Nb(Fe1−xTx)2 with TV, Cr, Mn, Co and Ni

Abstract The C14 Laves phase NbFe 2 is a very weak antiferromagnet with a Neel temperature of about 10 K. The magnetic properties and the magnetic phase diagrams of V, Cr, Mn, Co and Ni substituted systems for Fe in NbFe 2 have been investigated using magnetization measurements and NMR studies. The antiferromagnetism in NbFe 2 collapses by the substitution less than 1 at% in all the cases. By the V, Cr and Mn substitutions weak ferromagnetic state appeared instead at the low-concentration region. Ferromagnetism has been found to be enhanced with certain values of the unit cell volume and/or the 3d-electron number which are common to the three cases. The magnetic changes are discussed in comparison with the previously reported Nb(Fe 1− x Al x ) 2 and Ti(Fe 1− x T x ) 2 cases.