Magnetic nanoscale laminates with tunable exchange coupling from first principles

Abstract

The ${M}_{n+1}$$A{X}_{n}$ (MAX) phases are nanolaminated compounds with a unique combination of metallic and ceramic properties, not yet including magnetism. We carry out a systematic theoretical study of potential magnetic MAX phases and predict the existence of stable magnetic (Cr${}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}$Mn${}_{x}$)${}_{2}$AlC alloys. We show that in this system ferromagnetically ordered Mn layers are exchange coupled via nearly nonmagnetic Cr layers, forming an inherent structure of atomic-thin magnetic multilayers, and that the degree of disorder between Cr and Mn in the alloy can be used to tune the sign and magnitude of the coupling.