Magnetic and electrical/thermal transport properties of Mn-doped Mn+1AXn phase compounds Cr2-xMnxGaC (0 ≤ x ≤ 1)

In this paper, we report the effects of partial substitution of Mn for Cr on the structural, magnetic, and electrical/thermal transport properties of M(n+1)AX(n) phase compounds Cr2-xMnxGaC (0 <= x <= 1). As a result, the unit cell volume and the thermal conductivity decrease while the resistivity increases with increasing x. Interestingly, the magnetism of Cr2-xMnxGaC changes from the nonmagnetic Cr2GaC (x = 0) to the ferrimagnetic CrMnGaC (x = 1). In order to shed light on the discrepancy observed between Hall coefficient and Seebeck coefficient of Cr2GaC, the electrical conductivity, Hall coefficient, and magnetoresistance are analyzed within a two-band model. Furthermore, an upturn is observed in low-temperature specific heat of Cr2-xMnxGaC, which may be related with the magnetic Mn dopant. (C) 2013 American Institute of Physics. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4789954]