Effect of carbon content on magnetostructural properties of Mn$_3$GaC

Abstract

Effect of carbon content on magnetostructural transformation in antiperovskites of the type Mn$_3$GaC$_x$ ($x$ = 0.8, 1.0 and 1.05) has been investigated. It is found that, increase in carbon content changes the ground state from ferromagnetic metallic ($x$ = 0.8) to antiferromagnetic semiconducting ($x$ = 1.05) type. This has been attributed to localization of itinerant Mn $3d$ electrons due to increased Mn$3d$ - C$2p$ hybridization. Such a hybridization strengthens Mn-C-Mn antiferromagnetic interactions over Mn-Mn ferromagnetic interactions. Further, magnetic field can be used as a tool to modulate the relative strengths of these ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic interactions thereby affecting the nature and strength of magnetocaloric properties.