Itinerant metamagnetic transition in Y(Co1−xFex)2

High field magnetization measurements have been performed to examine the existence of itinerant metamagnetism in exchange-enhanced systems related to YCo₂ together with Fe_1−x Co_xSi. In the Y(Co_−xFe_x)₂ system, the meta magnetism inherent in YCo₂ has been observed in 0.04 x0.07. The transition is not as sharp as in the Y(Co_1−xAl_x)₂ system. Other exchange-enhanced paramagnets Y(Co_−xCu_x)₂ and Y_1−xLa_xCo_x2 and weakly itinerant ferromagnet Fe_1−xCo_xSi exhibit no metamagnetic transition up to 430 kOe.     

High field magnetization of the Laves phase compounds M(Co1−xAlx)2 (M = Y, Lu)

Magnetization measurements have been carried out on the Laves phase compounds M(Co_1−xAl_x)₂(M = Y, Lu) up to 42 T. Sharp metamagnetic transitions with small hysteresis are found in Y(Co_1−xAl_x)₂, while broad transitions with large hysteresis are found in Lu(Co_1−xAl_x)₂. The results suggest that the former compounds are magnetically homogeneous but the latter inhomogenous.     

Thermoelectric power of Y(Mn1−xAlx)2

Electrical resistivity and thermoelectric power of Y(Mn_1−xAl_x2 and (Y_1−xSc_x)Mn₂ were measured from 2 to room temperature. Anomalous behavior of the thermoelectric power of YMn₂ disappears rapidly with the increase of Al content in Y(Mn_1−xAl_x)₂. Based upon spin fluctuations of the itinerant antiferromagnetism of the samples, the anomaly of the thermoelectric power is discussed.     

Spin fluctuations in weakly itinerant ferromagnets Y(Co1−xAlx)2

The nuclear spin-lattice relaxation rate, 1/T₁, has been measured in weak itinerant ferromagnets Y(Co_1−xAl_x)₂. The temperature and magnetic field dependence of 1/T₁T has been found to be well described by the self-consistent renormalization (SCR) theory of spin fluctuations. The parameters characterizing spin fluctuations in this system were estimated from NMR and magnetic measurements. The temperature dependence of susceptibility calculated from these parameters well reproduces the experimental results.     

Spin fluctuations of Y(Mn1−xAlx)2 and Y1−xScxMn2

The thermal expansion and low temperature and low temperature specific heat were measured for Y_1−xScxMn2. The results are discussed in terms of spin fluctuations and compared with those of Y(Mn_1−xAl_x)₂, which show al local moment character. It is revealed that Y_1−xSc_xMn₂ is a typical nearly antiferromagnet in which giant spin fluctuations are thermally excited.     

Magnetic properties and a combined recursive-CPA calculation of pseudobinary intermetallics: Application to Hf(FeAl)2

The pseudobinary compounds Hf(Fe_1−xAl_x)₂, 0.15×0.30, show a pure C14 phase. Since the structure is stabilized in the presence of impurities, a combined recursive method — extended CPA is applied. The local densities of states for C14 are obtained within the recursive method and then the CPA describes the disorder. The changes with x of the local densities, and Fe magnetic moment are estimated.     

Magnetic behavior of Pr1 − xMxCo5 compounds (M = Ti, Zr and Hf)

Magnetic characteristics of Ti-, Zr- and Hf-substituted PrCo₅ alloys have been studied over the temperature range from 77 to 300 K and for applied fields up to 20 kOe. It is established that Ti, Zr and Hf substitute for Pr. Single-phase materials are formed for all values of x up to 0.2 in the system Pr_1−xZr_xCo₅ but for x only up to 0.1 for Pr_1−xTi_x Co₅ and Pr_1−xHfxCo₅ alloys. Larger amounts of Zr can be substituted if the material is made hyperstoichiometric in Co, e.g., Pr_0.7Zr_0.3Co_5.5. All the alloys show a decrease in magnetic moment and an increase in Curie temperature as x increases. Anisotropy fields decrease as x increases at 295 K. Anomalous behavior is observed at 77 K, suggested that these ternary alloys may have a cone structure at this temperature.     

Magnetization study of polycrystalline YBa2AlxCu(3−x)O7−δ (x = 0.05, 0.10 and 0.20) compounds

Superconductivity in polycrystalline YBa₂Al_xCu_(3−x)O_7−δ materials was characterized by dynamic AC and quasistatic DC magnetometry. Intragranular persistent current density and low-loss intergranular critical current density were deduced using DC and AC techniques, respectively. Addition of aluminum produced modest increases in the intragranular persistent current for x < 0.2, but drastically reduced the intergranular critical current density for x = 0.2. The critical temperature T_c for superconductivity decreased only 4% for Al content up to x = 0.2.     

NMR study of Laves phase (Mg1−xRx)Co2 compounds

Nuclear magnetic resonances of ⁵⁹Co nuclei in (Mg_1−xR_x)Co₂ (R = Y, Gd) compounds at 4.2 K have been observed for 0x1. By replacing Mg with R, the ⁵⁹Co hyperfine field decreases or is nearly constant in the C14 range and increases in the C15 range. These results are explained by the difference of the contribution from R atoms.     

Itinerant electron ferromagnetism in the Laves phase compounds Se(Co1−xAlx)2 and Lu(Co1−yAly)2

Typical weak itinerant ferromagnetism has been found in Sc(Co_1−xAl_x)₂, which a magnetism and higher Curie temperatures. Magnetic for X = 0.10. Lu(Co_1−yAl_y)₂ also shows ferromagnetism with much larger moments anad higher Curie temperatures. Magnetic and nonmagnetic Co atoms coexist in 0.06 < y < 0.12.     

Magnetic properties of Zr(FeAl)2 pseudobinaries: A CPA study

An extension of the usual tight binding CPA to include local d-p hybridization induced by sp impurities (Al or Si) is proposed. Coupled self-consistency equations for the d and p effective medium self-energies are established. An application to Zr(Fe_1−xAl_x)₂ pseudobinary is presented.     

Temporary phase segregation processes during the oxidation of (Fe0.7Mn0.3)0.99O in N2---H2O atmosphere

A two-step thermochemical cycle with the ternary metal oxide system (Fe_{1 − x}Mn_x)₃O₄/(Fe_{1 − x}Mn_x)_{1 − y}O is applied to convert solar energy to chemical energy. Experimental investigations on the water splitting reaction of (Fe_{1 − x}Mn_x)_{1 − y}O revealed temporary formation of a manganese rich rock salt phase and an iron rich spinel phase due to phase segregation processes.     

Study on the superconducting composite material formation in the system Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+x/Al-containing phases

Phase evolution in the Bi---Sr---Ca---Cu---Al---O system was studied. Two Al-containing phases BiSr_1.5Ca_0.5Al₂O_z and (Sr_1−xCa_x)₃Al₂O₆ (x = 0.4 − 0.45) were determined to be chemically compatible with Bi_2.18Sr₂CaCu₂O_8+x (Bi-2212) at temperatures of the samples processing. The phase equilibria in the title system were investigated above the solidus temperature. The BiSr_1.5Ca_0.5Al₂O_z was found to be in equilibrium only with the melt and the (Sr_1−xCa_x)₃Al₂O₆ phase. This latter aluminate equilibrated with Ca,Sr cuprates, CaO, the Cu-free phase, and the liquid. The melting and solidification in Bi-2212, doped with the aluminate, corresponded to the reversible reaction Bi-2212 + BiSr_1.5Ca_0.5Al₂O_z ↔ (Sr_1−xCa_x)₃Al₂O₆ + liquid. Two sets of superconducting composite materials with initial compositions Bi-2212 + nBiSr_1.5Ca_0.5Al₂O_z and Bi-2212 + m(Sr_1−xCa_x)₃Al₂O₆ were prepared by solidification from the partial melt. The former material was composed mostly of large Bi-2212 lamellas separated by the BiSr_1.5Ca_0.5Al₂O_z phase, which destroyed superconducting links between Bi-2212 grains. The latter material consisted of a Bi-2212 polycrystalline matrix with high concentration of small (ca. 3 μm) grains of (Sr_1−xCa_x)₃Al₂O₆ imbedded in Bi-2212 lamellas. The Bi-2212 + m(Sr_1−xCa_x)₃Al₂O₆ materials displayed a trend to enhance flux pinning at T = 60 K with the increase of aluminate phase content.     

Magnetic anisotropy of the Y(Co1-xFex)3 pseudobinary compounds

The anisotropy energy of the Y(Co_{1 - x}Fe_x)₃ compounds has been determined between 4.2 and 250 K. The concentration dependence of the anisotropy energy behaves anomalously in this pseudo-binary series. Upon increasing the iron content, the anisotropy energy increases up to x = 0.25, then decreases, changes sign around x = 0.45 and reaches a flat minimum at the iron-rich side. This anomaly can satisfactorily be explained in terms of the individual site anisotropy model by considering the different occupancy factors of iron and cobalt for the 3d sites.     

Phonon Raman scattering in Nd1+xBa2−xCu3O7−δ and Pr1+xBa2−xCu3O7−δ single crystals

The polarized Raman spectra of Nd_1+xBa_2−xCu₃O_7−δ (−0.023≤x≤0.107) and Pr_1+xBa_2−xCu₃O_7−δ (0.01≤x≤0.15) single crystals have been investigated. It was found that the Cu(2) A_g mode softens by 6 cm⁻¹ in Nd 1:2:3 and 4 cm⁻¹ in Pr 1:2:3 as x increases. These frequency shifts cannot be explained by the change in the relevant bond lengths due to Nd(Pr)-substitution for Ba. The variations with x of the two low frequency modes may be affected by change of their hybridization and/or change of their force constants. The linewidths of Ba mode in Pr 1:2:3 are broader than those in Y 1:2:3. This result suggests that the Pr substitution on Ba sites occurred even in a very small value of x. In x(yy) geometry the relative intensity of the Ba and O(4) modes in Nd 1:2:3 is greater than those in Pr 1:2:3. The difference between Nd 1:2:3 and Pr 1:2:3 in the relative intensity of the Ba and O(4) modes may be produced by the chains.     

Short-range order and F ion diffusion inside the Pb1 − xAlxF2 + x solid solution Part II: Al NMR investigation and proposal of clustering process

A ²⁷Al nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) investigation at room temperature of the Pb_{1 − x}Al_xF_{2 + x} (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.12) solid solution and of the ordered Pb₉Al₂F₂₄ phase is carried out. Two different types of aluminium ions are identified and their ratio is determined as a function of x. A clustering process based on the formation of column clusters, more and more extended when x increases, is proposed on the basis of results issued from the ¹⁹F (Part I) and ²⁷Al NMR investigations.     

Effect of hydrogen absorption on the magnetic properties of some Zr-3d laves phase binary and pseudobinary intermetallics

Magnetization measurements have been performed on ZrCr₂, ZrMn₂, Zr(Cr_xFe_1−x)₂(x = 0.2, 0.5, 0.75) and Zr(Cr_x Co_1−x)₂ (x = 0.75, 0.4) before and after hydrogenation. In all cases both the magnetic moments and the magnetic ordering temperatures (whenever present) appeared to be significantly larger in the hydride phases. The increase of the magnetic ordering temperatures is in a qualitative agreement (but not a quantitative one) with the negative pressure effects on T_c in ZrFe₂.     

Specific heat measurements of (Ho, Y)Co2 and (Dy, Y)Co2

We report on concentration- and temperature-dependent specific heat measurements of (Dy_xY_1−x)Co₂ in the temperature range from 1.5 to 60 K in comparison with recent results of (Ho_xY_1−x)Co₂. The magnetic contribution to the specific heat, C_m, is analysed with regard to the appearance of spin-fluctuations and in terms of spin-glass phenomena. The loss of magnetic entropy in the dilute RE-concentration range indicates presumably an instability of the RE-moments.     

Disruption of antiferromagnetic order in Zn-doped La2CuO4

The magnetic phase diagram of La₂(Cu_1−xZn_x)O₄ has been determined from zero-field muon-spin-rotation (ZF-μSR) data taken at LAMPF for 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.10. Antiferromagnetic onset temperatures follow T_N(x) from susceptibility measurements on the same samples. However, the order becomes long range, as evidenced by a well-defined internal magnetic field, only at temperatures well below T_N. Extrapolation of our results yields T_N → 0 K at x = 0.11 for a single (Cu_1−xZn_x)O₂ plane, and comparison with YBa₂(Cu_1−xZn_x)₃O₆ implies identical disruption of magnetism by Zn doping in the single- and double-plane systems.     

Effects of cation- or oxide ion-defect on conductivities of apatite-type La–Ge–O system ceramics

A series of apatite-type La–Ge–O ceramics were prepared and their cation-defect at the 4f+6h sites and oxide ion-defect at 2a site were investigated. In La_xGe₆O_12+1.5x ceramics of x=6–12, the higher conductivities were obtained in the region of apatite composition, La_x(GeO₄)₆O_1.5x−12 (x=8–9.33), and the highest conductivity was achieved for La₉(GeO₄)₆O_1.5 (x=9), where the number of cation (La³⁺) occupying the 4f+6h sites is 9 and the number of oxide ion occupying the 2a site is 1.5. The ceramics with cation- and oxide ion-defects were La_9−0.66xSr_x(GeO₄)₆O_1.5 (x=0–1), La_9−1.33xZr_x(GeO₄)₆O_1.5 (x=0–1), La_9−xSr_x(GeO₄)₆O_1.5−0.5x (x=0–3), La_9−xZr_x(GeO₄)₆O_1.5+0.5x (x=0–1), La_x(GeO₄)_3x−21(AsO₄)_27−3xO_1.5 (x=0–3), La_x(GeO₄)_33−3x(AlO₄)_3x−27O_1.5 (x=0–3), La₉(GeO₄)_6−x (AlO₄)_xO_1.5−0.5x (x=0–3), La₉(GeO₄)_6−x(AsO₄)_xO_1.5+0.5x (x=0–1), La_9.33−xSr_x(GeO₄)₆O_2−0.5x (x=0–1.2) and La_x(GeO₄)_4.5(AlO₄)_1.5O_1.5x−12.75 (x=8.8–9.83), which were prepared by the partial substitution of La³⁺and GeO₄⁴⁻of the basic apatite La₉(GeO₄)₆O_1.5 with Sr²⁺ or Zr⁴⁺ and AlO₄⁵⁻ or AsO₄³⁻. Such substitutions lowered the conductivity of La₉(GeO₄)₆O_1.5. These results were discussed by the electrostatic interaction between Sr²⁺, Zr⁴⁺, AlO₄⁵⁻ or AsO₄³⁻ and oxide ion as a conductive species.