6533b871fe1ef96bd12d2339

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Magnetic properties and61Ni Mössbauer spectroscopy of the ternary phosphide CrNiP

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The results of x-ray diffraction, dc magnetization, and 61Ni Mossbauer spectroscopy studies of the ternary phosphide CrNiP are reported. This compound crystallizes in the orthorhombic Co2P-type structure (space group Pnma) with the lattice parameters a = 5.7965(1) A, b = 3.5337(1) A, and c = 6.8123(2) A. NiCrP is a ferromagnet with Curie temperature TC = 135.1(1) K. The ferromagnetic-to-paramagnetic transition is characterized by the critical exponents β = 0.355(22), γ = 1.241(18), and δ = 4.585(20). Their values are close to those of a 3D Heisenberg ferromagnet. The temperature dependence of the magnetic susceptibility above TC follows the modified Curie–Weiss law with a paramagnetic Curie temperature of 142.9(6) K and effective magnetic moment per transition-metal atom of 1.70(2) μB. The magnetic moment per formula unit at 4.2 K is found to be 0.816(13) μB. The hyperfine magnetic field at 61Ni nuclei at 4.2 K of 32.3(1.3) kOe implies that the Ni atoms carry a magnetic moment of 0.14(8) μB, and that the moment carried by the Cr atoms is 0.68(9) μB. The Debye temperature of NiCrP is 261(3) K.