Magnetic Properties and Magnetoresistance Effect of YMn₆Sn_6-xCr_x (x = 0-0.8) Compounds

The magnetic properties and magnetoresistance effect of
YMn₆Sn_6-xCr_x (x = 0-0.8) compounds have been experimentally studied by magnetic properties and resistivity measurements in the applied field range 0-5 T. The compound (x = 0.8) displays the ferromagnetic behaviour, while the compounds (x = 0-0.4) display the antiferromagnetic behaviour in the whole ordering temperature range. The compounds (x = 0.5, 0.6) experienced a transition from an antiferromagnetic state to ferromagnetic one with increasing temperature. The compound with x = 0.8 is rapidly saturated in the lower magnetic field with saturation magnetization of 35.92 emu/g. The compounds (x = 0-0.6) display a field induced metamagnetic transition, and the threshold fields decrease with increasing Cr content. The cell-volume V of compounds (x = 0-0.8) increases, and the ordering temperature decreases with the increasing Cr content. A large magnetoresistance effect was observed for the compounds (x = 0.4, 0.5), and the maximum absolute value at 5 K are 32% and 24% under 5 T for x = 0.4 and x = 0.5, respectively.