The pursuit of efficient spin-polarization in quaternary Heusler alloys with the general formula XX′YZ (where X, X′, and Y are transition metals and Z is a p-block element), has been a subject of significant scientific interest. While previous studies shows that isoelectronic substitution of 4d element in place of 3d element in quaternary Heusler alloy, improves the half-metallic ferromagnetic characteristics, our research on the quaternary Heusler alloy NiRuMnSn reveals a strikingly different scenario. In this study, we present a detailed structural analysis of the material using X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) and neutron diffraction (ND) techniques, which confirms the formation of a single-phase compound with 50:50 site disorder between Ni/Ru atoms at 4c/4d sites. Contrary to expectations, our DFT calculations suggests a considerable decrease in spin-polarization even in the ordered structure. Additionally, we report on the compound's exceptional behavior, displaying a rare re-entrant spin glass property below ∼60 K, a unique and intriguing feature for quaternary Heusler-type compounds.
@article{arxiv.2305.03087,
title = {4d-element induced improvement of structural disorder and development of weakly re-entrant spin-glass behaviour in NiRuMnSn},
author = {Shuvankar Gupta and Sudip Chakraborty and Vidha Bhasin and Santanu Pakhira and Anis Biswas and Yaroslav Mudryk and Amit Kumar and Celine Barreteau and Jean-Claude Crivello and Amitabh Das and S. N. Jha and D. Bhattacharyya and Vitalij K. Pecharsky and Eric Alleno and Chandan Mazumdar},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2305.03087},
year = {2023}
}