MnBi₂: A Metastable High-Pressure Phase in the Mn–Bi System

Journal Article · Wed Apr 24 00:00:00 EDT 2019 · Chemistry of Materials

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemmater.9b00385· OSTI ID:1530676

Walsh, James P. S. ^[1]; Clarke, Samantha M. ^[2]; Puggioni, Danilo ^[1]; Tamerius, Alexandra D. ^[1]; Meng, Yue ^[3]; Rondinelli, James M.  ^[1]; Jacobsen, Steven D.  ^[1]; Freedman, Danna E.  ^[1]

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1. Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States)
2. Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States); Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
3. Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Lemont, IL (United States)

Interacting heavy main group elements that are laden with spin–orbit coupling with transition metals, such as manganese, is a potential route toward the synthesis of new permanent magnets. In theory, this approach can be used to design magnets with large magnetic energy products by maximizing both coercive field and remnant magnetization. Powerful precedent for this approach resides in the intermetallic compound, MnBi, which was for a short time in the 1950’s the most powerful magnetic material in the world. Creating new materials within this phase space is enabled by high-pressure synthesis, which is facilitated by recent advances in in situ techniques within diamond anvil cells. We observed the Mn–Bi system under high pressure in search of novel intermetallic compounds, and herein we report the discovery of MnBi₂, a novel intermetallic in the Mn–Bi system. This compound forms above 8.3(1) GPa, crystallizing in the Al₂Cu structure-type with a = 6.8315(1) Å and c = 5.6572(2) Å. This discovery hints at the possibility of further compounds within this underexplored phase space.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States); Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States); Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States); George Washington Univ., Washington, DC (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: US Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Scientific User Facilities Division; Army Research Office (ARO); Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) - Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR); National Science Foundation (NSF); USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Office of Defense Programs (DP)
• Grant/Contract Number: AC52-07NA27344; SC0018092; AC02-06CH11357; FA9550-14-1-0358; FA9550-17-1-0247; W911NF-15-1-0017; NA0003858
• OSTI ID: 1530676
• Alternate ID(s): OSTI ID: 1548403; OSTI ID: 1596775; OSTI ID: 1599891
• Report Number(s): LLNL-JRNL-758840; 946905
• Journal Information: Chemistry of Materials, Vol. 31, Issue 9; ISSN 0897-4756
• Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY