Magnetic properties of UFe5Sn single crystals

Millimetre-size UFe₅Sn single crystals were grown by the top seed solution growth method and characterized by magnetization, ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy and specific heat measurements in order to study the magnetic transitions detected in powder samples at 248 and 178 K. The magnetization measurements show different behaviour along the three crystallographic directions but with similar values of spontaneous magnetization along a and c. The transition at 248 K is associated with ferromagnetic ordering of iron moments along the c-axis, while the transition at lower temperature is associated with a reorientation towards b. Mössbauer data show that this reorientation is concomitant to the ordering of the Fe2 sites, which in a large proportion remain paramagnetic between the two transition temperatures. Specific heat measurements are consistent with the establishment of magnetic ordering at 248 K, followed by a spin reorientation at 178 K, yielding γ(0 K)140 mJ/(mol K²) and θ290 K for UFe₅Sn.     

Anisotropic dielectric properties of PbYb1/2Ta1/2O3 single crystals

PbYb_1/2Ta_1/2O₃ single crystals were obtained for the first time. They were grown by the flux method. The PbOPbF₂B₂O₃ system was used as a solvent. Dielectric investigations were carried out in 1 0 0_c, 1 1 0_c and 1 1 1_c pseudocubic directions. These studies pointed to anisotropy of dielectric properties. Frequency-independent ε′(T) and ε″(T) maxima related to the antiferroelectric–paraelectric (AFE—PE) phase transition are observed for all directions at 562 K. The frequency-dependent ε′(T) and ε″(T) maxima near 400 K related to the ferroelectric (FE)–AFE phase transition are observed only in 1 1 1_c direction. The hysteresis loops were observed in this direction only. These results point that ferroelectric relaxor properties appear only in 1 1 1_c direction. We propose to consider the ferroelectric phase as ferrielectric one.     

Magnetic properties of YCo5 (70%wt)+Y2Co17 (30%wt) nanocomposite powders at low temperatures

Nanostructured YCo₅ (70%wt)+Y₂Co₁₇ (30%wt) composite powders were prepared by mechanical milling and subsequent annealing at 1073 K for 1.5 min. The average grain size D of the YCo₅ and Y₂Co₁₇ phases, obtained from XRD data, was 14 and 12 nm, respectively. The temperature dependence of the magnetic properties was studied by DC magnetization measurements at temperatures T ranging from 3 to 300 K. Hysteresis loops (H_max=70 kOe) show that both the coercivity H_C and the squareness σ_r/σ_max are temperature-dependent. The coercivity increases from 12 kOe at room temperature to 18 kOe at T=3 K. The observed enhanced remanence (σ_r/σ_max>0.5) indicates that a strong exchange coupling is present at all temperatures used in this study. The maximum magnetization σ_max changes little with temperature and has a value of about 70% of the effective saturation magnetization of the title compound.     

Magnetic phase transition in (Fe,Mn)65Ni35 alloys

Magnetization measurements on the Fe₆₀Mn₅Ni₃₅ and Fe₅₀Mn₁₅Ni₃₅ alloy samples were carried out in the temperature range 80T300 K and in magnetic fields up to 8 kOe. The Fe₆₀Mn₅Ni₃₅ was found to order ferromagnetically with a Curie temperature, T_c, above 300 K. From the temperature dependence of the spontaneous magnetization, M_s, it was concluded that the magnetic behavior of Fe₆₀Mn₅Ni₃₅ follows Wohlfarth theory of weak itinerant ferromagnet. The Fe₅₀Mn₁₅Ni₃₅ sample exhibits a magnetic phase transition from ferromagnetism to paramagnetism at T_c=242 K. The critical amplitudes and critical exponents (β, γ and δ) have been determined by using Arrott plots, Kouvel–Fisher method and scaling plots of the reduced magnetization and reduced magnetic field. The values of β, γ and δ are discussed and compared with the results obtained for various theoretical models and also with the experimentally determined values for related systems obtained by others.     

Magnetic properties and domain structure of polycrystalline DyFe3

Magnetization σ vs. temperature T was measured from 80 to 700 K in polycrystalline DyFe₃ in a magnetic field H = 10 kOe. From σ = f(T), the Curie temperature was determined. Also, σ was measured vs. H from 0 to 70 kOe at 4.2 K. Magnetization at saturation σ₀ at 4.2 K and the magnetic moment of DyFe₃ were also determined. First observations of domain structure in DyFe₃ are reported. The mean domain with is determined in its dependence on the grain size . The magnetocrystalline anisotropy constant of polycrystalline DyFe₃ is determined as K₁ = -1.2×10⁷ erg/cm³.     

Effect of Li2O doping on electrical properties of CoFe2O4

The solid–solid interactions between cobalt and ferric oxides to produce CoFe₂O₄ were followed up using XRD investigation. The effect of Li₂O-doping on the ferrite formation was also studied. The electrical and dielectric parameters of pure and doped mixed solids precalcined at 1273 K were measured using d.c and a.c instruments.The dopant concentration was varied between 0.5 and 6 mol% Li₂O. The results obtained revealed that Li₂O doping much enhanced the ferrite formation due to an increase in the mobility of the reacting species.

The addition of the smallest amount of Li₂O (0.5 mol%) resulted in measurable variations in the electrical constants (ρ, E_a, ′, ″ and tan δ). Resistivity increased upon increasing the dopant concentration up to 1.5 mol% exceeding the values measured for the undoped sample. Furthermore, the presence of 6 mol% Li₂O brought about a significant decrease of electrical resistivity. Also, the activation energy decreased with increasing the dopant concentration. The dielectric constant behaves according to ε=const. 1/ρ^1/2.

The Li₂O-doping modified the values of different dielectric constants, the change in these constants was found to be strongly dependent on the amount of Li₂O added.These results have been discussed in terms of the potentiality of Li₂O in increasing the mobility of the reacting species involved in the ferrite formation.     

Magnetic moments and Fe hyperfine field interactions in Y(Fe1−xRux)2 ternaries

Measurements of magnetization and ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectra have been made for Y(Fe_1−xRu_x)₂. The C15 type cubic structure is stabilized for xx 0.7. The C15 compounds is ferromagnetic with T_c200 K and its saturation moment decreases monotonically with increasing x, while the ⁵⁷Fe hyperfine field decreases only slightly with x. From these results, it is deduced that the Ru atoms have an induced moment of ≈1μ_B in the range x 0.2. In the C14 type phase, no magnetic ordering develops even at 4.2 K.     

Magnetic properties in BaFe12O19 nanoparticles prepared under a magnetic field

It was observed that the nanocrystallites of BaFe₁₂O₁₉ formed at 140°C under a 0.25 T magnetic field exhibited a higher saturation magnetization (6.1 emu/g at room temperature) than that of the sample (1.1 emu/g) obtained under zero magnetic field. Both of the two approaches yielded plain-like particles with an average particle size of 12 nm. However, the Curie temperature (T_c), a direct measuring of the strength of superexchange interaction of Fe³⁺–O²⁻–Fe³⁺, increased from 410°C for the nanoparticles prepared without an external field applied to 452°C for the particles formed under a 0.25 T magnetic field, which indicates that external magnetic fields can improve the occupancy of magnetic ions and then increase the superexchange interaction. This was confirmed by electron paramagnetic resonance and Mössbauer spectrum analysis. The results present in this paper suggest that in addition to oxygen defects, surface non-magnetic layer and a fraction of finer particles in the superparamagnetic range, cation vacancies should be responsible for the decreasing of saturation magnetization in magnetic nanoparticles.     

Sonochemically assisted synthesis of zinc-doped maghemite

Nanoparticles of zinc-doped maghemite were prepared using ultrasonic radiation. As a precursor, a suspension of maghemite in an alkaline aqueous solution of zinc nitrate at pH 9 was sonicated. The zinc-doped maghemite nanoparticles were investigated by X-ray diffraction, Mössbauer spectroscopy, high-resolution electron microscopy (HREM) and SQUID magnetometry. The Mössbauer measurements, which cover the temperature range 4.2 K to room temperature, were acquired in zero field and an applied field of 5 T. The results show that by using ultrasound radiation, zinc Zn²⁺ can substitute for Fe³⁺ up to a composition close to zinc ferrite (ZnFe₂O₄), which has a random distribution of Fe³⁺ ions over both A and B sublattices in the spinel structure with an inversity parameter of δ = 0.322. This leads to a maximum saturation magnetization (M_s) of 64.1 emu/g at 300 K and 73.5 emu/g at 2 K.     

Magnetic properties of xFe2O3(1−x)[B2O3 · PbO] glasses

The magnetic measurements performed on xFe₂O₃(1-x)[B₂O₃ · PbO] glasses show that for x 5 mol.% Fe₂O₃ the thermal variation of reciprocal susceptibility obeys a Curie behaviour. For higher iron content, at T 50 K, a nonlinear variation, typical for systems with random distribution of exchange interactions is observed. At greater temperatures than 50 K a Curie-Weiss behaviour is shown. The composition dependence of the Curie constants is analysed in correlation with the number of Fe³⁺ and Fe²⁺ ions as determined from Mössbauer effect measurements. A comparison with the data obtained in case of xFe₂O₃(1-x)[3B₂O₃ · PbO] glasses is made.     

Dopant-site occupancies and superconducting properties of the Fe-substituted La2.5Nd0.5CaBa3(Cu1−xFex)7Oz perovskite

The structural and superconducting properties of single-phase Fe-substituted La_2.5Nd_0.5CaBa₃(Cu_1−xFe_x)₇O_z (LNCBCuFe) with 0.0x0.06 compounds having triple-perovskite structure are investigated using X-ray diffraction, a.c. susceptibility, d.c. magnetization, oxygen content and Mössbauer effect measurements. Mössbauer spectral analysis of x=0.03 sample displays unusual Fe-dopant site occupancies and the Cu(2) plane to Cu(1) chain site ratio in the LNCBCuFe are quite different from those of the usual Fe-doped YBa₂Cu₃O_7−δ. Specifically, we observe substantial occupation of a new chain-associated quasi-octahedral site, E, at 300 K which transforms into the well-known distorted tetrahedron chain site, A, on lowering the temperature to 78 K. The observed reduction of T_c with increasing x in LNCBCuFe supports the view that the hole filling mechanism contributes predominantly to the suppression of superconductivity by Fe.     

Localized canting of spins structure in the spinel oxide system: ZnzTizFe2−x−zCrx−zCoO4

The spinel oxide system Zn_zTi_zFe_2−x−zCr_x−zCoO₄; z=x²; x=0.60, 0.65, 0.70 and 0.80, was studied using neutron diffraction technique, low field DC magnetization measurements (ZFC–FC measurements), magnetic hysterisis, Mössbauer spectroscopy and low field AC susceptibility measurements. All the compositions show significantly less B-site magnetic moments at 10 K temperature derived from neutron diffraction data than the free ions site moments deduced assuming collinear arrangement of spins. This combined with some other features seen in the low temperature neutron diffraction patterns suggest localized canting of spins (LCS) type of magnetic ordering in the present system where a long range order of longitudinal component of moments co-exists along with totally disordered transverse component of moments. The conclusion is also supported by the features seen in the other measurements. The magnetic moments derived from 10 K neutron diffraction data are explained using the LCS approach for different exchange integrals ratios.     

Specific heat and anisotropic superconducting and normal-state magnetization of HoNi2B2C

The magnetization of single-crystal HoNi₂B₂C has been measured as a function of applied field (H) and temperature in order to probe the interplay between superconductivity and magnetism in this complex layered system. The normal-state magnetic susceptibility of HoNi₂B₂C is highly anisotropic with a Curie-Weiss-like temperature dependence for H applied perpendicular to the c-axis and with a much weaker temperature dependence for H applied parallel to the c-axis, indicating that the Ho⁺³ magnetic moments lie predominately in the tetragonal a−b plane below 20 K. High-field magnetization (2000 Oe), low-field magnetization (20 Oe) and zero-field specific heat all give an antiferromagnetic ordering temperature of T_N=5.0 K. Remarkably, in 20 Oe applied field both superconductivity (T_c=8.0 K) and antiferromagnetism (T_N=5.0 K) clearly make themselves manifest in the magnetization data. From these magnetization data a phase diagram in the H−T plane was constructed for both directions of applied field. This phase diagram shows a non-monotonic temperature dependence of H_c2 with a deep minimum at T_N=5 K. The high-field magnetization data for H applied perpendicular to the c-axis also reveal a cascade of three phase transitions for T < 5 K and H < 15 000 Oe, contributing to the rich H versus T phase diagram for HoNi₂B₂C at low temperatures.     

Handling the particle size and distribution of Fe3O4 nanoparticles through ball milling

A series of samples consisting of spinel Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles with controlled particle sizes and increasing concentration has been obtained through ‘mild’ ball milling (BM) experiments by using an organic carrier liquid. We have succeeded in producing quite narrow particle size distributions with mean values d7–10 nm by an appropriate choice of the milling time for each concentration. The method proved to be practical to tailor the final particle size without formation of undesirable phases. All samples showed superparamagnetic behavior at room temperature, with transition to a blocked state at T_B10–20 K. The mean value and distribution width of the size distributions for the three samples studied were obtained from M(H) cycles recorded at T>T_B showing good agreement with X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy results. The effect of increasing interparticle interactions was to shift T_B upwards, as inferred from magnetization measurements. Mössbauer spectra at low temperatures showed no evidence of enhanced spin disorder.     

Itinerant magnetism in TiMxBe2-x (M = Cu, Fe)

Magnetization and Mössbauer studies of TiCu_xFe_yBe_2-x-y (x = 0, 0.03, 0.4, y = 0, 0.02) show that TiBe₂ is an enhanced paramagnet, 0.02 Fe or 0.03 Cu reduce the susceptibility. On the other hand, TiCu_0.4Be_1.6 is ferromagnetic (T_c = 20 K) and 0.02 Fe reduces the magnetization and Curie point (T_c = 16 K). The magnetic properties of all samples are extremely sensitive to sample preparation and heat treatments.

The Mössbauer studies show that the itinerant magnetism resides on the Ti site, all Ti sites have the same local spin density irrespective of local environment.     

Aspects of “low field” magnetotransport in epitaxial thin films of the ferromagnetic metallic oxide SrRuO3

Epitaxial thin films of the conductive ferromagnetic oxide SrRuO₃ were grown on an (0 0 1) SrTiO₃ (STO) substrate by using DC sputtering technique. The magnetic and magnetoresistive properties of the films were measured by applying the magnetic field both perpendicular (out-of-plane) and parallel (in-plane) to the film plane and ever maintaining the direction of the applied field perpendicular to that of the transport current. The films grown on an (0 0 1) STO substrate showed identical magnetization properties in two orthogonal crystallographic directions of the substrate, [1 0 0]_S and [0 0 1]_S (in-plane and out-of-plane geometry), which suggests the presence of a multi domain structure within the plane of the film. For such samples, no anisotropic field (hard axis) along de [0 0 1]s direction, i.e., perpendicular to the film-plane could be detected. Nevertheless, a distinguishable temperature dependent out-of-plane anisotropic magnetoresistance (MR) along with strong temperature dependent low field hysteretic MR(H) behavior was detected for the studied films. A negative MR ratio MR(T)=[ρ(μ₀H=9 T; T)−ρ( μ₀H=0 T; T)]/ρ( μ₀H=0 T; T) on the order of a few percent, with maximums of 6% and 4% (right at the Curie temperature, T_C 160 K) was calculated for an in-plane and out-of plane measuring geometry, respectively. In addition there is an equally strong MR effect at low temperatures, which might be related to the temperature dependence of the magnetocrystalline anisotropy together with a magnetization rotation. Both the MR(T) behavior and the achieved values (except for T<30 K) are similar to those obtained on SrRuO₃ films grown on 2° miscut (0 0 1) STO substrates with the current parallel to the field and parallel to the direction, which was identified as the easier axis for magnetization.     

Crossover from thermally activated flux creep to quantum tunneling of vortices in a YBa2Cu3O7−x film

We present the results of a study of flux creep in a ring-shaped epitaxial superconducting YBa₂Cu₃O_7−x film at low temperatures. Measurements between 2 and 20 K have been made and it is confirmed that the flux creep is a thermally activated process at temperatures exceeding 10 K. The low-temperature data are analyzed by assuming a crossover to quantum tunneling of the vortex lines. Using the fact that the critical current in our sample is almost independent of temperature below 20 K, we establish the temperature dependence of the Euclidian action S directly from the experimental data without any a priori assumptions. Our results imply that at temperatures below 8.5 K S(T)=S(0)(1−T²/T_qc²), with approximately the same value of T_qc≈15 K for the case of the remnant magnetization as well as in an external magnetic field of 1 kOe.     

Ferromagnetic Zr1−xMnxCo2 laves phase compounds

Structure and magnetic properties of the Zr_1−xMn_xCo_2+δ alloys were studied for 0 x <0.7, δ=0, 0.45. The cubic C15 Laves phase structure shows Mn solubility up to x≈0.4. The other Laves phase with the hexagonal C36 structure found for x0.5 apparently has a small region of Mn solubility in the vicinity of Zr_0.4Mn_0.6Co₂. Though the parent Mn-free compounds are known to be paramagnetic, the Mn-substituted alloys show ferromagnetic behavior with the Curie temperatures up to 625 K and the room-temperature saturation magnetization of about 100 emu/g. The onset of ferromagnetism with the Mn substitution for Zr may be caused by polarization of itinerant 3d electrons, like it was earlier supposed for the off-stoichiometric ZrCo_2+δ. The universal composition dependencies of the intrinsic magnetic properties for different δ can be obtained, if plotted against the amount of zirconium atoms missing in its sublattice. The room-temperature anisotropy with the noticeable anisotropy field of 24 kOe and the 1 1 0 easy magnetization direction laying in a basal plane was found in the hexagonal Zr_0.5Mn_0.5Co₂.     

Magnetic behavior of 3d dopants in superconducting REBa2Cu3−xFexO7+δ (RE=Dy, Er)

Mössbauer studies on ⁵⁷Fe-doped superconducting REBa₂Cu₃O_7+δ (RE=Er, Dy) were made as a function of temperature for x=0.15 and 0.30. The magnetic behavior of the 3d dopants, which mainly occupy Cu(1) sites, undergoes antiferromagnetic ordering which is coexistent with superconductivity at low temperature. The dimensionality of the magnetic interaction changes from 2D to 3D when the rare earth changes from Er to Dy. the line-widths of the Mössbauer subspectra are characteristic of magnetic fluctuation behavior in the vicinity of a phase transition. Combining these results with those of Fe-doped Y-123 (pseudo 1D) and Gd (3D), the magnitude of the rare earth moments appears to be strongly correlated with the dimensionality of the magnetic interaction of Fe dopants in these compounds. However, the Mössbauer spectrum for ¹⁵⁵Gd in GdBa₂Cu_2.85Fe_0.15O_7+δ (T_{N(Fe) 14 K}) shows no magnetic order at 4.9 K.     

钙钛矿型锰氧化物(La$lt;sub$gt;0.8$lt;/sub$gt;Eu$lt;sub$gt;0.2$lt;/sub$gt;)$lt;sub$gt;4/3$lt;/sub$gt;Sr$lt;sub$gt;5/3$lt;/sub$gt;Mn$lt;sub$gt;2$lt;/sub$gt;O$lt;sub$gt;7$lt;/sub$gt;的磁性和电性研究

采用传统固相反应法制备钙钛矿型锰氧化物 (La_0.8Eu_0.2)_4/3Sr_5/3Mn₂O₇多晶样品, X-射线衍射分析表明, 样品(La_0.8Eu_0.2)_4/3Sr_5/3Mn₂O₇结构呈现良好的单相. 通过磁化强度随温度的变化曲线(M-T)、不同温度下磁化强度随磁场的变化曲线(M-H)和电子自旋共振谱发现: 在300 K以下, 随着温度的降低, 样品先后经历了二维短程铁磁有序转变 (T_C^2D ≈ 282 K)、三维长程铁磁有序转变(T_C^3D ≈ 259 K)、奈尔转变(T_N ≈ 208K)和电荷有序转变(T_CO ≈ 35 K); 样品 (La_0.8Eu_0.2)_4/3Sr_5/3Mn₂O₇在T_N以下, 主要处于反铁磁态; 在T_C^3D达到370 K时, 样品处于铁磁-顺磁共存态, 在370 K以上时样品进入顺磁态. 此外, 分析电阻率随温度的变化曲线(ρ-T)得到: 样品在金属-绝缘转变温度(T_P ≈ 80 K)附近出现最大磁电阻值, 其位置远离T_C^3D, 表现出非本征磁电阻现象, 其磁电阻值约为61%. 在T_CO以下, 电阻率出现明显增长, 这是由于温度下降使原本在高温部分巡游的e_g电子开始自发局域化增强所致. 通过对 (La_0.8Eu_0.2)_4/3Sr_5/3Mn₂O₇的ρ-T 曲线拟合, 发现样品在高温部分的导电方式基本遵循小极化子的导电方式. 关键词： 磁性 电性 金属-绝缘转变温度 电子自旋共振