Mössbauer study of the Heusler-type Fe2MAl compounds for M = V, Cr, Fe, Co, Ni

The crystal structure and magnetic properties of Fe2MAl compounds for M = V, Cr, Fe, Co and Ni were investigated by X-ray, magnetostatic and Mössbauer effect methods. It was found that the investigated compounds possess not perfectly ordered fcc structure of the L21-type. With increasing number of 3d electrons of M component the transition from the paramagnetic to ferromagnetic behaviour follows. Mössbauer spectra were analysed by a hyperfine field distribution method. They are characterictic of the ferromagnetic phase for M = Fe, Co and Ni and indicated the early observed preference of these atoms for the Fe sites.