Multifunctional properties of powdered Ni-Mn-Sn intermetallics

The project is targeted on basic investigation of the multi-functional properties of a set of the Ni2Mn1+xSn1-x alloys that will be prepared in crystalline, powdered and nano-crystalline form. An effect of technology, including a size of crystallite and grain boundary processes, on the magneto-structural martensitic transition of the alloys will be studied. The diffusionless martensitic transition is accompanied by strong changes of electrical and thermal conductivity and by pronounced magnetoresistance, Seebeck, Hall and magneto-caloric effects and thus, it essentially affects the widely usable properties of the alloys. The project solution will be based mainly on a broad study of mentioned effects even at high pressures and magnetic fields to receive new indispensable information for an optimization of the properties of the alloys. The experimental investigation will be strongly supported by quantum-mechanical computations of thermodynamic, magnetic and transport properties of the alloys, including of effects of size of crystallite and grain boundary on the studied effects.