Chemical order and magnetic properties of the Ni2−xMnSb system

The results of extensive magnetisation, X-ray and neutron powder diffraction measurements on the intermetallic compound series Ni_2-xMnSb, for 0?x?1, are reported. For x ?0.4, a high degree in the C1_b structure is observed, but for x?0.3, some disorder is evident. The series is ferromagnetic, with Curie temperatures rising from 368 to 732 K with decreasing nickel concentration. The magnetic moments all lie in the range (4.0±0.3)μ_B, with a maximum at a composition near x=0.45. The magnetic moments are largely associated with the ordered manganese sites, but it is possible that a small negative moment ?0.25μ_B may be associated with the “nickel sites” for x?0.3. This latter moment may be accounted for by disordered Mn atoms antiferromagnetically aligned.