Research Symposium

BIO

I am a first year undergraduate student from Illinois. My research interests lie in chemistry and chemical engineering, specifically within solid-state chemistry. I intend to attend medical school or graduate school in a field relating to my research interests after completion of my bachelor's degree.

Exploring Magnetic Phase Boundaries in Half-Heusler Intermetallics

Abstract

In this project, we explore the interphase space between the crystal structures of two half-Heusler alloys, MnFeGe and MnFeAs. The former belongs to the hexagonal Ni2In structure type, while the latter has been reported to exhibit two types of structures, either Fe2P or Cu2Sb. We investigate the relationships between these structures as a function of composition and temperature. To investigate the intermediate phase space between the two parent alloys, we carry out doping of As for Ge, which vary by one valence electron. We hypothesize that the change in the number of valence electrons will trigger the change in the structure type, thus resulting in a structural phase transition. Coupling this structural transition to magnetic ordering can make these Half-Heusler alloys promising materials for magnetocaloric applications, such as magnetic refrigeration. Unusual spiral or helical spin textures that can develop in the region of structural instability are also of interest in the context of using these materials in spintronic devices

Keywords: Solid State Chemistry