Magnetic anisotropy in Cr2GeC investigated by X-ray magnetic circular dichroism and ab initio calculations

Abstract The magnetism in the inherently nanolaminated ternary MAX-phase Cr2GeC is investigated by element-selective, polarization and temperature-dependent, soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy and X-ray magnetic circular dichroism. The measurements indicate an antiferro-magnetic Cr-Cr coupling along the c-axis of the hexagonal structure modulated by a ferromagnetic ordering in the nanolaminated ab-basal planes. The weak chromium magnetic moments are an order of magnitude stronger in the nanolaminated planes than along the vertical axis. Theoretically, a small but notable, non-spin-collinear component explains the existence of a non-perfect spin compensation along the c-axis. As shown in this work, this spin distortion generates an overall residual spin moment inside the unit cell resembling that of a ferri-magnet. Due to the different competing magnetic interactions, electron correlations and temperature effects both need to be considered to achieve a correct theoretical description of the Cr2GeC magnetic properties.