The effect of Zn vacancies on the physical properties of antiperovskite compounds Mn3ZnxN

The effects of Zn vacancies on the physical properties of antiperovskite compounds Mn3ZnxN (x = 0.96 and 0.93) were investigated. For Mn3Zn0.96N, lowering the temperature produced two anomalies in the magnetization and heat capacity curves: the first at similar to 185 K is related to magnetic ordering and was accompanied by a lattice expansion; the second at similar to 115 K is due to a magnetic order change and showed a lattice contraction. However, for Mn3Zn0.93N only a single transition is observed around 185 K. (C) 2013 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.