Thermoelectric power in ferromagnetic Pb0.16Sn0.72Mn0.12Te semiconductor

Thermoelectric power was studied in semimagnetic (diluted magnetic) Pb_1−x−ySn_yMn_xTe (x=0.12,y=0.72) semiconductor in the temperature range T=10–100 K covering both ferromagnetic and paramagnetic range of temperatures of this material. In addition to standard diffusion contribution to the thermoelectric power (α_D∝T), we found in PbSnMnTe an additional “magnetic” contribution (α_FM). Employing the effect of carrier-concentration-controlled ferromagnetism in PbSnMnTe, we demonstrate that the temperature dependence of α_FM(T) shows a clear maximum at the ferromagnetic Curie temperature. This experimental finding is discussed in terms of Kasuya model for the thermoelectric properties of diluted magnetic metallic systems with sd-exchange interaction.     

Microstructural investigation of ternary alloyed magnetic nanoparticles

Analytical transmission electron microscopy is a proper method so as to uncover microstructure and composition of novel magnetic nanocrystals potentially used as biological markers. The focus of this study is the preparation and characterization of the (Fe_1−xCo_x)_1−yPt_y alloyed nanoparticles utilizing high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and dispersive X-ray analyses.     

Synthesis and investigation of the structure of nanocomposites based on nickel nanoparticles dispersed in a phthalocyanine matrix

A method based on doping of pure nickel phthalocyanine (NiPc) with a polycrystalline potassium powder at relatively low temperatures (300°C) has been proposed for the synthesis of a magnetic nanocomposite containing nickel nanoparticles stabilized in the NiPc matrix. The structural analysis of the synthesized nanoparticles and changes in the NiPc initial matrix has been performed using X-ray diffraction, X-ray absorption spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. It has been found that, at the doping level used in this study, the synthesized samples of the K_xNiPc nanocomposites contain from 9 to 18% Ni in the form of metallic magnetic nanoparticles with an average size of more than 40 nm. It has been shown that the formation of nanoparticles is accompanied by a relative misorientation of persistent NiPc molecules with the unchanged structure of each of these molecules. The stabilization of nickel nanoparticles by the phthalocyanine matrix leads to the fact that the synthesized nanocomposites acquire time-conserving magnetic properties.     

Preparation and magnetic property of the composite of nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes decorated with nickel nanoparticles

A magnetic composite of nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes (CN_x) decorated with nickel nanoparticles was synthesized by a chemical precipitation and deoxidization method. The decorated CN_x were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The XRD pattern showed that CN_x, nickel nanoparticles and little nickel oxides coexisted in the composite, TEM observation indicated that nickel nanoparticles were highly dispersed on the outer walls of CN_x, Magnetic measurements by VSM demonstrated that the saturated magnetization and remanence of CN_x were improved, while the coercivity was lowered after decorating with nickel nanoparticles.     

Nanocomposites of magnetic cobalt nanoparticles and cellulose

Polymeric matrices with stabilized metallic nanoparticles constitute an important class of nanostructured materials, because polymer technology allows fabrication of components with various electronic, magnetic and mechanical properties. The porous cellulose matrix has been shown to be a useful support material for platinum, palladium, silver, copper and nickel nanoparticles. In the present study, nanosized cobalt particles with enhanced magnetic properties were made by chemical reduction within a microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) matrix. Two different chemical reducers, NaBH₄ and NaH₂PO₂, were used, and the so-formed nanoparticles were characterized with X-ray absorption spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. These experimental techniques were used to gain insight into the effect of different synthesis routes on structural properties of the nanoparticles. Magnetic properties of the nanoparticles were studied using a vibrating sample magnetometer. Particles made via the NaBH₄ reduction were amorphous Co-B or Co oxide composites with diminished ferromagnetic behaviour and particles made via the NaH₂PO₂ reduction were well-ordered ferromagnetic hcp cobalt nanocrystals.     

Study of ferromagnetic bulk domains by neutron depolarization in three dimensions

The polarization change of a polarized neutron beam after transmission through a partly magnetized ferromagnetic material can be described by a (3×3) depolarization matrix. A theory has been developed to interpret this matrix in terms of well-known magnetic domain quantities such as the reduced mean magnetizationm, the mean domain size δ and the mean square direction cosines γ _x , γ _y and γ _z of the inner magnetization within the domains. In order to do this it was necessary to make some simplifying assumptions about ferromagnetic domain structures. The influences of these assumptions on the quantities derived have been discussed. Finally the theory has been applied to depolarization measurements in nickel foils with the magnetic field and mechanical stress as parameters.     

Microwave absorption properties of Al- and Cr-substituted M-type barium hexaferrite

Aluminum- and chromium-substituted barium ferrite particles with single magnetic domain were prepared using self-propagating combustion method. The crystalline structure, size, coercivity and microwave absorption property of the particles were investigated by means of X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, vibrating sample magnetometry and vector network analyzer. The results show that the crystalline structure of BaFe_12−xAl_xO₁₉ is still hexagonal. But when the chromium substitution amount y exceeds 0.6, the extra chromium ions cannot enter the lattice of BaFe_12−yCr_yO₁₉. After Fe³⁺ is partly substituted with Al³⁺ and Cr³⁺, the microwave absorption properties of barium ferrite are improved. The maximum absorption reaches 34.76 dB. The ferromagnetic resonance is an important channel of barium ferrite to absorb microwaves with high frequency. Aluminum and chromium substitutions change the ferromagnetic resonant frequency of barium ferrite. The multipeak phenomenon of the ferromagnetic resonance increases the microwave absorption capability of barium ferrite.     

Magnetic properties of U (Fe x Al1−x )2 and U(Fe y Ni1−y )2 compounds

The results of magnetic measurements and ferromagnetic resonance studies performed on U(Fe _x Al_1–x )₂ and U(Fe _y Ni_1–y )₂ compounds over a large temperature range are reported. The saturation magnetization decreases nearly linearly when substituting Fe by Al or Ni. In the composition range x<0.84 and y<0.81, the compounds are Pauli paramagnets, except in the region with y0.10. For UNi₂ two types of magnetic behaviours are shown. This compound can be both a ferromagnet withT _c =23.5 K and a Pauli paramagnet, depending on the crystal structure. Above the Curie temperatures, the reciprocal susceptibility for the compounds with x>0.84 and y>0.81 obeys a temperature dependence of the formX=X _o+C(T-) ^–1. The effective iron moments decrease when substituting iron by nickel or aluminium. The ferromagnetic resonance measurements show that theg values are not composition-dependent. A linear variation of the mean iron magnetization with the exchange field is observed. Finally, the magnetic behaviour of iron in these compounds is analysed.     

Properties of three-dimensional composites based on opal matrices and magnetic nanoparticles

Three-dimensional nanocomposites consisting of an opal matrix and a metal have been prepared by the interaction of salts and oxides of different elements (Ni, Co, Fe, etc.) embedded in an opal matrix with isopropanol in the range of supercritical state parameters of the alcohol. According to X-ray powder diffraction analysis and transmission electron microscopy data, the composites consist of an X-ray amorphous opal matrix with pores filled by nanoparticles of Co (or CoO _x ), metallic Ni, or Fe₃O₄ with a magnetite structure of various morphology. The sizes of the nanoparticles do not exceed the diameter of the pores in the opal matrix. A complex investigation of the nanocomposites has been performed using the electron magnetic resonance and vibrating magnetometry methods. All the studied samples at room temperature exhibit a ferromagnetic behavior. The coercive force of the samples lies in the range from 150 Oe for iron-containing nanocomposites to 565 Oe for cobalt-containing nanocomposites.     

EPR/FMR Investigation of Mn-Doped SiCN Ceramics

SiCN magnetic ceramics doped with Mn²⁺ ions were synthesized at the pyrolysis temperature of 1,100° C, using CERASET™ as liquid polymer precursor and polymer manganese(II) acetylacetonate as dopant, and investigated by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR)/ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) technique. The predominant source of ferromagnetism in SiCN samples doped with Mn ions, as synthesized here, is the ensemble of ferromagnetic nanoparticles of Mn₅Si₃C _x incorporated into the amorphous SiC/Mn structure. The fluctuation of magnetization due to ferromagnetic Mn₅Si₃C_x particles significantly broadens the EPR lines at the phase-transition temperature (363 K). This is the first fabrication of a SiCN/Mn ceramic, which exhibits room-temperature ferromagnetism.     

CoFe-based granular alloys: the role of the metallic matrix

RF-sputtered CoFe-NM granular alloys (NM=Ag, Cu) with CoFe volume content, x_v, ranging from 0.10 to 0.45 have been studied. These two series of samples show similar features depending on the synthesis conditions and post-deposition annealing treatments, revealing the strong dependence of magnetotransport properties on microstructure. Three different regimes have been observed as x_v is increased: the classical giant magnetoresistance (GMR) regime at low ferromagnetic contents; at intermediate x_v, a domain structure appears, and GMR and anisotropic magnetoresistance (AMR) together with domain wall scattering are observed; and a third regime at x_v close but below the volume percolation threshold, where the two latter contributions still coexist, while the GMR contribution has been suppressed by strong magnetic correlations. The role of the metallic matrix is crucial to determine the crossover ferromagnetic contents between these three regimes, which depend on the relative immiscibility of CoFe either in the Ag or Cu matrices and the diffusivity of Ag and Cu. Moreover, the metallic matrix settles the degree of CoFe segregation, sample crystallisation and texture, which are responsible for the magnetotransport properties.     

Structural and magnetic characterization of Bi1–xLaxFeO3 and BiFe1–yMnyO3 nanoparticles synthesized via a sol–gel method

Here, La-doped Bi_1–xLa_xFeO₃ and Mn-doped BiFe_1–yMn_yO₃ (x, y?=?0.1, 0.2, 0.3) nanoparticles were synthesized by a sol–gel process. For Bi_1–xLa_xFeO₃, structural analysis suggested that its structure changed from rhombohedral to tetragonal phase without secondary phase when x increased from 0 to 0.3. In addition, with the increasing doping concentration of La, transmission electron microscopy exhibited the doped nanoparticle size reduced, while the magnetic properties were correspondingly enhanced. However, for synthesis of BiFe_1–yMn_yO₃, phase analysis showed that there easily existed secondary phase for nanoparticles with 10% and 30% Mn-doped, while 20% Mn-doped nanoparticles indicated high crystallinity without any impure phases. Similarly, we observed the enhanced magnetic properties with the increase of Mn concentration.     

Tunnel magnetoresistance of bilayer ferromagnetic nanoparticles with magnetostatic interlayer interaction

A new method for forming submicron magnetic tunnel junctions consisting of two CoFe ferromagnetic layers separated by a dielectric TaO _x spacer is proposed. It is shown that the tunnel magnetoresistance effect can be used for studying the features of magnetization reversal of bilayer ferromagnetic nanoparticles.     

Phase diagram and isotope effect in cobaltites with spin-state transitions

The oxygen isotope effect was investigated in cobalt oxides (Pr_{1 − y} Eu _y )_0.7Ca_0.3CoO₃ (0.12 < y < 0.26). The measurements of magnetization, electric resistivity, differential magnetic susceptibility, thermal expansion, and specific heat show that as the Eu concentration increases, a transition from “ferromagnetic metal” to “weakly magnetic insulator” is observed at y ≈ 0.18. In the insulating ground state, the transition occurs with a Co spin-state change that is suppressed in the ferromagnetic (FM) metallic phase. The spin-state transition at y > 0.18 is accompanied by a substantial oxygen isotope effect that is virtually absent in the FM phase (y < 0.18).     

Charge-Ordered Antiferromagnetic to Ferromagnetic Phase Transition in Cr-Doped Nd0.5Ca0.5Mn1−x Cr x O3: EMR and Magnetization Study

The Cr-doped rare-earth manganites Nd_0.5Ca_0.5Mn_1−x Cr _x O₃ (x = 0.03, 0.05, 0.10) are studied by electron magnetic resonance (EMR) and magnetization measurements in the paramagnetic as well as in the ferromagnetic phase. The magnetization measurements show that the charge-ordered antiferromagnetic phase decreases at the expense of ferromagnetic metallic phase and for Cr doping of x = 0.1, the charge-ordered phase melts completely. The EMR shows multiple signals for all three compositions in the ferromagnetic phase indicative of an anisotropic ferromagnetic phase. The difference between the shift of the high-field and low-field signals decreases with Cr doping, indicating that the magnetic anisotropy decreases with the Cr doping. In the paramagnetic phase the EMR line width follows Causa's model as observed in other colossal magnetoresistant manganites. Authors' address: Ajay Sharma, Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India     

Onset of itinerant ferromagnetism associated with semiconductor-metal transition in Ti<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Nb<Subscript>1 − <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>CoSn half Heusler solid solution compounds

In this paper, the magnetic and transport properties of the Ti _x Nb_{1 − x} CoSn solid solution compounds with half Heusler cubic MgAgAs-type structure have been studied. This work shows the onset of ferromagnetism associated with a semiconductor to metal transition. The transition occurs directly from ferromagnetic metal to semiconducting state as it is the case in the TiCo _x Ni_{1 − x} Sn series studied previously. A weak quantity of Ti in NbCoSn is suffcient to allow the appearance of ferromagnetic order and metallic state. The variations of the Curie temperature as a function of saturation and effective paramagnetic moments are related to the itinerant ferromagnetism model. A comparison is made with the TiCoSn _x Sb_{1 − x} series (also studied previously), where the transition from TiCoSn ferromagnetic metal to non-magnetic semiconductor TiCoSb occurs through an intermediate metallic Pauli-like state.      

Low-temperature magnetic ordering in the perovskites Pr1−xAxCoO3 (A=Ca,Sr)

The magnetic and electrical properties of polycrystalline Pr_1?xA_xCoO₃ cobaltites with A=Ca, Sr and 0≤x≤0.5 were studied in the temperature range 4 K≤T≤1000 K and field up to 7 T. The X-ray analyses show the presence of only one phase having monoclinic or orthorhombic symmetry. The magnetic measurements indicate that the Ca-doped samples have at low temperatures, similar properties to the frustrated magnetic materials. PrCoO₃ is a paramagnetic insulator in the range from 4 to 1000 K. The Sr-doped cobaltites exhibit two phase transitions: a paramagnetic–ferromagnetic (or magnetic phase separated state) phase transition at about 240 K and a second one at about 100 K. The magnetic measurements suggest the presence of magnetic clusters and a change in the nature of magnetic coupling between Co ions at low temperatures. A semiconducting type behavior and high negative magnetoresistance was found for the Ca-doped samples, while the Sr-doped ones were metallic and with negligible magnetoresistance. The results are analyzed in the frame of a phase separation scenario in the presence of the spin-state transitions of Co ions.     

层状磁电复合材料谐振频率下的巨磁电容效应

对三明治复合结构Tb_xDy_1-xFe_2-y/Pb(Zr, Ti)O₃/Tb_xDy_1-xFe_2-y的电容与频率及磁场的函数关系进行了实验和理论研究. 实验发现,该复合材料样品的电容随频率的增加而出现多个谐振峰,并且其谐振点随磁场的增加而发生频移. 在谐振点附近,观察到样品的阻抗随磁场的增加由容抗性转变为感抗性,从而同时观察到巨大的正磁电容效应和负磁电容效应. 由复合材料的弹性力学本构方程出发,对该类样品的电容随频率及磁场的变化进行了理论模拟. 结果显示,模拟曲线与实验结果符合得很好. 理论表明该磁致伸缩/压电复合材料的磁电容效应源于磁场诱变的铁磁相柔顺系数. 关键词： 层状复合材料 界面弹性耦合 磁电容效应     

Sr2FeMoO6: A Prototype to Understand a New Class of Magnetic Materials

We propose a new mechanism to explain the magnetic structure of a recently discovered magnetoresistive double perovskite oxide system, Sr₂FeMoO₆, with the help of detailed experimental and theoretical results. This model, based on a strong antiferromagnetic coupling between the local moment and the charge carriers arising from local hopping interactions, can give rise to ferromagnetic metallic as well as ferromagnetic insulating ground states. The relevance of this mechanism in understanding the magnetism in dilute magnetic semiconductors such as Ga_{1 − x} Mn _x As, is also discussed.     

Effect of the addition of Cr,Ta and Nb on structural and magnetic properties of Fe–Si alloys

High-resolution X-ray diffraction patterns of Fe_78.5Si₂₀Ta_1.5 and Fe_80−xSi₂₀Nb_x (x=0.5, 3.0, 10) show the existence of a metastable hexagonal phase (NbFe_2−xSi_x and TaFe_2−xSi_x) together with bcc-Fe_100−ySi_y solid solution and an amorphous matrix. The grain size of the bcc-Fe_100−ySi_y phase decreases with increasing Nb content in Fe–Si compounds resulting in nanocrystalline materials. On the other side, the micro-strain, the lattice constant, coercivity and the Curie temperature increase with Nb concentration. Enhancements of the local strain and local magnetic anisotropy were also observed by means of NMR measurements. On the contrary, the addition of Cr causes a decrease in the coercivity and Curie temperature.