Large magnetostrain in magnetic-field-aligned Mn0.965CoGe compound

By applying external stimulus (temperature or magnetic field), MnCoGe-based compounds undergo a martensitic transformation from hexagonal Ni2In-type to orthorhombic TiNiSi-type structure accompanied with a giant negative thermal expansion, which suggests a large magnetic-field-induced strain. However, these compounds naturally collapse into powders and are difficult to be oriented, which hinder their applications for magnetostrain. In this paper, a magnetic-field-aligned Mn0.965CoGe compound was prepared by bonding with epoxy resin and orientating in a magnetic field. The XRD patterns revealed the texture in this sample. By introducing vacancies of Mn element, the magnetostructural transformation temperature of Mn0.965CoGe compound was shifted down to 278 K. The magnetostrain was measured at some selected temperatures and the maximal strain could reach up to 925 ppm at 270 K.