Cluster-glass behavior in Al70Pd20Mn10

We carried out precise magnetization measurements in an Al₇₀Pd₂₀Mn₁₀ quasicrystalline system using a high-quality single crystal. A strange phenomena was observed at room temperature, which was a difference between zero field cooled and field cooled magnetization below 290 K. The thermoremanent magnetization also disappeared at 290 K. These experimental results suggest the forming of ferrimagnetic Mn ions clusters in Al₇₀Pd₂₀Mn₁₀ below 290 K. In addition, high field magnetization in the temperature range between 4.2 and 30 K up to 12 T was also measured to investigate the anisotropic molecular field between clusters.     

Superparamagnetic properties of C60Co3 complexes

Preparation of fullerites containing cobalt and analyses of reactions based on semiempirical quantum calculations are described. The magnetic properties of thermally treated C₆₀Co₃ samples: Curie constant (C≈3500 emu K/mol Oe) temperature and field dependencies of magnetization and nonequilibrium effects of magnetization are interpreted in terms of superparamagnetic blocking model of the compound.     

Uniaxial pressure effect on magnetic susceptibility of perovskite manganite La0.66Ba0.34MnO3

Magnetization of La_0.66Ba_0.34MnO₃ and its temperature behavior under a uniaxial pressure of 0.1 kbar are measured between 5 and 270 K in magnetic fields 0<H<120 Oe. The magnetization represents nearly linear dependence on an external magnetic field. Temperature dependence of the magnetic susceptibility found represents a plateau, that is considered as an evidence of the formation of a long period magnetic structure (probably a sort of helix) below the Curie point. Pressure derivative of magnetization displays a sharp minimum at 200 K, pointing to an instability of electronic structure of the compound near this temperature.     

Structural and magnetic ordering in La0.6Ca0.4MnO3

The structural and magnetic ordering in La_0.6Ca_0.4MnO₃ has been studied by neutron powder diffraction as a function of temperature between 15 and 300 K. The para-ferromagnetic transition at T∼250 K is accompanied by significant structural distortions in the form of octahedral Mn–O₆ rotations. At 15 K, the total refined ferromagnetic moment on the Mn site was obtained as 3.1 μ_B, in reasonable agreement with the total expected average moment of mixed Mn³⁺/Mn⁴⁺ matrix.     

Magnetic phase transitions in the Nd(Mn0.9Me0.1)O3 (Me=Al, Fe, Cr, Zn) perovskites

It is shown that perovskite NdMnO₃ is a weak ferromagnet with an anomalous magnetization behavior due to Nd sublattice contribution. Ferromagnetic component drastically increases whereas T_N slightly decreases when a part of manganese ions is replaced with Cr, Al, Fe, Zn. It is suggested that the Mn³⁺–O–Mn³⁺ superexchange interaction changes a sign in the microdomains enriched with Me=Cr, Al, Fe, Zn ions due to removing static Jahn–Teller distortions. All these substituted perovskites show a sharp drop of the magnetization as temperature decreases. A large temperature hysteresis indicates first-order phase transition. Below this transition neodymium magnetic moments orient opposite to a moment of manganese magnetic sublattice. It is supposed that this phase transition results from a change of the ground state of Nd ions.     

Micro Raman,Mossbauer and magnetic studies of manganese substituted zinc ferrite nanoparticles: Role of Mn

A series of Mn–Zn Ferrite nanoparticles (<15 nm) with formula Mn_xZn_1−xFe₂O₄ (where x=0.00, 0.35, 0.50, 0.65) were successfully prepared by citrate-gel method at low temperature (400 °C). X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the formation of single cubic spinel phase in these nanoparticles. The FESEM and TEM micrographs revealed the nanoparticles to be nearly spherical in shape and of fairly uniform size. The fractions of Mn²⁺, Zn²⁺ and Fe³⁺ cations occupying tetrahedral sites along with Fe occupying octahedral sites within the unit cell of different ferrite samples are estimated by room temperature micro-Raman spectroscopy. Low temperature Mossbauer measurement on Mn_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄ has reconfirmed the mixed spinel phase of these nanoparticles. Room temperature magnetization studies (PPMS) of Mn substituted samples showed superparamagnetic behavior. Manganese substitution for Zn in the ferrite caused the magnetization to increase from 04 to18 emu/g and Lande's g factor (estimated from ferromagnetic resonance measurement) from 2.02 to 2.12 when x was increased up to 0.50. The FMR has shown that higher Mn cationic substitution leads to increase in dipolar interaction and decrease in super exchange interaction. Thermomagnetic (M–T) and magnetization (M–H) measurements have shown that the increase in Mn concentration (up to x=0.50) enhances the spin ordering temperature up to 150 K (blocking temperature). Magnetocrystalline anisotropy in the nanoparticles was established by Mossbauer, ferromagnetic resonance and thermomagnetic measurements. The optimized substitution of manganese for zinc improves the magnetic properties and makes these nanoparticles a potential candidate for their applications in microwave region and biomedical field.     

Antiferromagnetic phase transition in garnet-type AgCa2Mn2V3O12 and NaPb2Mn2V3O12

Ferrimagnetism has been extensively studied in garnets, whereas it is rare to find the antiferromagnet. Present work will demonstrate antiferromagnetism in the two Mn–V-garnets. Antiferromagnetic phase transition in AgCa₂Mn₂V₃O₁₂ and NaPb₂Mn₂V₃O₁₂ has been found, where the magnetic Mn²⁺ ions locate only on octahedral A site. The heat capacity shows sharp peak due to antiferromagnetic order with the Néel temperature T_N=23.8 K for AgCa₂Mn₂V₃O₁₂ and T_N=14.2 K for NaPb₂Mn₂V₃O₁₂. The magnetic entropy change over a temperature range 0–50 K is 13.9 J K^?1 mol-Mn²⁺-ions^?1 for AgCa₂Mn₂V₃O₁₂ and 13.6 J K^?1 mol-Mn²⁺-ions^?1 for NaPb₂Mn₂V₃O₁₂, which are in good agreement with calculated value of Mn²⁺ ion with spin S=5/2. The magnetic susceptibility shows the Curie–Weiss behavior over the range 29–350 K. The effective magnetic moment μ_eff and the Weiss constant θ are μ_eff=6.20 μ_B Mn²⁺-ion^?1 and θ=?34.1 K (antiferromagnetic sign) for AgCa₂Mn₂V₃O₁₂ and μ_eff=6.02 μ_B Mn²⁺-ion^?1 and θ=?20.8 K for NaPb₂Mn₂V₃O₁₂.     

Magnetoresistance in thin wires with granular structure

We report on studies of magnetotransport properties and structure at 5–300 K temperature region in glass-coated microwires prepared from immiscible (Co₁₀Cu₉₀ and Co₂₉Ni₂₅Mn₁Cu₄₅) elements. The crystalline structure consists of nanocrystals of Co (Ni) and Cu with average grain size below 30 nm. Considerable magnetoresistance (MR) (up to about 18%) is found in Co₁₀Cu₉₀ microwires depending on fabrication parameters. Magnetic field dependence of MR of Co₁₀Cu₉₀ microwires is completely un-hysteretic showing monotonic decay with magnetic field. On the other hand, MR (up to about 4%) is also found in as-prepared and annealed Co₂₉Ni₂₅Mn₁Cu₄₅ microwires. Annealing of Co₂₉Ni₂₅Mn₁Cu₄₅ microwires (973 K) results in increasing of the coercivity (H_c) from 65 up to 750 Oe. Annealed Co₂₉Ni₂₅Mn₁Cu₄₅ sample exhibits considerable hysteresis on magnetic field dependence of MR. Neutron and X-ray diffraction allows to attribute changes in magnetic properties and MR after annealing of Co₂₉Ni₂₅Mn₁Cu₄₅ microwires to the decomposition of the metastable phase.     

Magnetic properties of RPdIn (R=Gd–Er) compounds

AC susceptibility and DC magnetization measurements were performed for the RPdIn (R=Gd–Er) compounds both in the paramagnetic and in the ordered state. In opposite to GdPdIn, which is a ferromagnet (T_c=102 K), the other samples show a complex ferrimagnetic behavior with the additional transition at T_t<T_c. In the high-temperature phase (for T_t<T<T_c), a ferromagnetic interaction dominates, while in the low-temperature phase (for T⩽T_t) antiferromagnetic interactions with the magnetocrystalline anisotropy, especially strong for TbPdIn, come into play. The ordering temperatures are T_c=70, 34, 25 and 12.3 K for Tb-, Dy-, Ho- and ErPdIn respectively, while transition temperatures are T_t=6, 14 and 6 K for Tb-, Dy- and HoPdIn respectively. TbPdIn reveals an additional transition at 27 K connected with the intermediate ferrimagnetic phase. The critical fields for the magnetization process of the low-temperature phase are high (52 and 150 kOe for TbPdIn and 32 kOe for DyPdIn at T=4.2 K) yet these values decrease remarkably with increasing temperature. Results of the study are compared with magnetic and neutron diffraction data hitherto available. We state that irreversibility of the zero-field cooled–field cooled magnetization is not connected with the spin-glass phase claimed elsewhere.     

Magnetic characterisation and hydrogen absorption characteristics of Pr3(Fe,Ti)29Hx

An interstitial Pr₃(Fe,Ti)₂₉ hydride was synthesised by gas-phase hydrogenation on Pr₃(Fe,Ti)₂₉ powder using H₂. The reaction kinetics between Pr₃(Fe,Ti)₂₉ and H₂ gases was studied in a constant-volume reactor. The sample starts to rapidly absorb hydrogen, interstitially, at about 533 K. Absorption passes through a maximum at about 598 K (1.6 H/f.u) and then interstitial hydrogen desorption takes place up to the temperature of 673 K. By cooling to room temperature, the sample absorbs more hydrogen, interstitially, reaching the value of 3.6 H/f.u. By remaining at room temperature, the sample absorbs even more hydrogen reaching the value of 5.2 H/f.u. The lattice expansion observed is 2.1% and the Curie temperature, T_C, increased from 392 to 518 K. The hydride exhibits saturation magnetisation, M_S, of 145.4 and 157.5 Am²/kg at room temperature (RT) and at 5 K, respectively, anisotropy field, H_A, of 2.1 T (RT) and 4.5 T (5 K) and average hyperfine field, H_eff, of 23.3 T (RT). The magnetic anisotropy of Pr₃(Fe,Ti)₂₉ hydride is the same as that of the parent compounds, easy-cone-like, changing only in the cone angle (from 34° to 26°).     

Quantum dots of Cd0.5Mn0.5Te semimagnetic semiconductor formed by the cold isostatic pressure method

Cd_0.5Mn_0.5Te is a semimagnetic semiconductor, which crystallizes in the zinc-blende structure (ZB) and exhibits a magnetic spin glass like transition at 21 K. Under pressure it shows a first-order phase transition around 2.6 GPa to the NaCl like structure. In this work, the pressure cycled method using a Paris–Edinburgh cell up to 8 GPa has been applied to Cd_0.5Mn_0.5Te samples in order to obtain recovered nanocrystals. The nanoparticles have been characterized by EDX and electron microscopy. The X-ray and electron diffraction results confirmed the existence of nanocrystals in the ZB phase with an average size of 7 nm. Magnetization measurements made in the range of 2–300 K at low field show that the temperature of the magnetic transition decreases when the crystallites’ size is reduced.     

Ferromagnetic order and spin-glass behavior in multi-metallic compound Ni1.125Co0.375[Fe(CN)6] · 6.8H2O

Multi-metallic Prussian blue compound Ni_1.125Co_0.375[Fe(CN)₆] · 6.8H₂O has been synthesized. The Mössbauer spectroscopy at room temperature and IR spectra study revealed that the metal ions are bonded through cyanide ligand and the presence of low spin Fe^III(S = 1/2) and high spin Fe^III(S = 5/2) ions, as showed in these structure: Fe^III(S = 1/2)-CN-(Co^II/Ni^II)(96%) and Fe^III(S = 5/2)-NC-(Co^II/Ni^II) (4%). The Curie constant of C = 3.00 cm³ K mol⁻¹ and Weiss paramagnetic Curie temperature of θ = 16.43 K were observed in fitting according to Curie–Weiss law. These results indicate that there existed a ferromagnetic exchange interaction in the complexes. The observed value of coercive field (H_c) and remanent magnetization (M_r) at 4 K for the compound are 497 Oe and 1.03 Nβ. The presence of spin-glass behaviours in the compound is ascribed mainly to domain mobility or domain growth under different cooling conditions.     

Hard magnetic properties of rapidly annealed NdFeB thin films on Nb and V buffer layers

NdFeB thin films of the form A (20 nm)/NdFeB(d nm)/A(20 nm), where d ranges from 54 to 540 nm and the buffer layer A is Nb or V were prepared on a Si(1 0 0) substrate by magnetron sputtering. The hard Nd₂Fe₁₄B phase is formed by a 30 s rapid anneal or a 20 min anneal. Average crystallite size ranged from 20 to 35 nm with the rapidly annealed samples having the smaller crystallite size. These samples also exhibited a larger coercivity and energy product than those treated by a 20 min vacuum anneal. A maximum coercivity of 26.3 kOe at room temperature was obtained for a Nb/NdFeB (180 nm)/Nb film after a rapid anneal at 725°C. Initial magnetization curves indicate magnetization rotation rather than nucleation of reverse domains is important in the magnetization process. A Brown's equation analysis of the coercivity as a function of temperature allowed us to compare the rapidly annealed and 20 min annealed samples. This analysis suggests that rapid annealing gives higher quality crystalline grains than the 20 min annealed sample leading to the observed large coercivity in the rapidly annealed samples.     

Magnetic properties of rare-earth transition metal aluminides R6T4Al43 with Ho6Mo4Al43-type structure

The magnetic properties of 53 aluminium-rich intermetallic compounds R₆T₄Al₄₃ with R=rare-earth elements and T=Ti, V, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo, W were investigated using polycrystalline samples and a SQUID magnetometer in the temperature range from 2 to 300 K with magnetic flux densities up to 5.5 T. The yttrium and lutetium compounds are Pauli paramagnetic, indicating that the transition metal atoms do not carry magnetic moments. The samarium compounds show van Vleck behavior and antiferromagnetic order with Néel temperatures of less than 12 K. Of these Sm₆Ti₄Al₄₃ becomes metamagnetic. The ytterbium compounds show a mixed or intermediate valent behavior and no magnetic order down to 2 K. All other compounds obey the Curie–Weiss law above 30 K. Their effective magnetic moments correspond to the theoretical moments of the rare-earth ions. They show ferromagnetic or metamagnetic behavior with ordering temperatures all below 20 K. The magnetization curves of most compounds (recorded up to 5.5 T) reach about 50% of the theoretical magnetization already at 0.5 T. The gadolinium compounds are exceptional in that they reach at 0.5 T only about 10% of their theoretical magnetization. The crystal structures of the isotypic compounds Yb₆V₄Al₄₃ and Yb₆Ta₄Al₄₃ were refined from single-crystal X-ray data.     

Synthesis,characterization and magnetic properties of lightly doped La2−xSrxCuO4 (x = 0.04) nanoparticles

Lightly doped La_2−xSr_xCuO₄ (x = 0.04) nanoparticles with different particle sizes have been successfully prepared by a sol–gel method and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), infrared transmission (IR) spectra and superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometer. All samples are single phase and have an orthorhombic unit cell. As the particle size reduces, it is found that the IR band at around 685 cm⁻¹ corresponding to the in-plane Cu–O asymmetrical stretching mode shifts to higher frequency and the magnetization exhibits a large enhancement at low temperature. The magnetic susceptibility of all samples follows a modulated Curie law between ∼20 K and ∼100 K and the Curie constant displays a strong dependence on the particle size. It is suggested that as the particle size decreases surface effects should play an important role in the magnetic properties of the nanoparticles.     

Effect of Cr substitution on the superconducting and magnetic properties of RuSr2Eu1.5Ce0.5Cu2O10−δ

In this paper we investigate the properties of polycrystalline series of Ru_1?xCr_xSr₂Eu_1.5Ce_0.5Cu₂O_10?δ (0.0 ? x ? 0.40) by resistivity, XRD and dc magnetization measurements. EuRu-1222 is a reported magneto superconductor with Ru spins magnetic ordering at temperatures near 100 K and superconductivity occurs in Cu–O₂ planes below T_c ? 40 K. The exact nature of Ru spins magnetic ordering is still being debated and no conclusion has been reached yet. In this work, we found the superconducting transition temperature T_c = 20 K from resistivity and dc magnetization measurements for pristine sample. DC magnetization measurements exhibited ferromagnetic like transition for all samples.     

Magnetic entropy change in perovskite manganites La0.65Nd0.05Ca0.3Mn0.9B0.1O3 (B=Mn,Cr, Fe)

We have investigated the effect of B-site dopant on magnetic entropy change in perovskite manganite samples of La_0.65Nd_0.05Ca_0.3MnO₃, La_0.65Nd_0.05Ca_0.3Mn_0.9Cr_0.1O₃, and La_0.65Nd_0.05Ca_0.3Mn_0.9Fe_0.1O₃ prepared by sol–gel technique. The maximum ΔS_H is in the order of −1.68 J/kg K and peaks at Curie temperature for La_0.65Nd_0.05Ca_0.3MnO₃ upon 10 kOe applied field change. For the sample with B-site dopant, a decrement of the maximum magnetic entropy change has been observed.     

Critical properties of superconducting Ba1−xKxFe2As2

Magnetisation and magneto-resistance measurements have been carried out on superconducting Ba_1?xK_xFe₂As₂ samples with x = 0.40 and 0.50. From high field magnetization hysteresis measurements carried out in fields up to 16 T at 4.2 K and 20 K, the critical current density has been evaluated using the Bean critical state model. The J_C determined from the high field data is >10⁴ A/cm² at 4.2 K and 5 T. The superconducting transitions were also measured resistively in increasing applied magnetic fields up to 12 T. From the variation of the T_C onset with applied field, dH_C2/dT at T_C was obtained to be ?7.708 T/K and ?5.57 T/K in the samples with x = 0.40 and 0.50.     

Giant magneto-caloric effect around room temperature at moderate low field variation in La0.7(Ca1−xSrx)0.3MnO3 perovskites

Among the perovskite manganites, a series of La_1?xCa_xMnO₃ has the largest magneto-caloric effect (MCE) (|ΔS_m|_max=3.2–6.7 J/kg K at ΔH=13.5 kOe), but the Curie temperatures, T_C, are quite low (165–270 K). The system of LaSrMnO₃ has quite high T_C but its MCE is not so large. The manganites La_0.7(Ca_1?xSr_x)_0.3MnO₃ (x=0, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20, 0.25) have been prepared by solid state reaction technique with an expectation of large MCE at room temperature region. The samples are of single phase with orthorhombic structure. The lattice parameters as well as the volume of unit cell are continuously increased with the increase of x due to large Sr²⁺ ions substituted for smaller Ca²⁺ ions. The field-cooled (FC) and zero-field-cooled (ZFC) thermomagnetic measurements at low field and low temperatures indicate that there is a spin-glass like (or cluster glass) state occurred. The Curie temperature T_C increases continuously from 258 K (for x=0) to 293 K (for x=0.25). A large MCE of 5 J/kg K has been observed around 293 K at the magnetic field change ΔH=13.5 kOe for the sample x=0.25. The studied samples can be considered as giant magneto-caloric materials, which is an excellent candidate for magnetic refrigeration at room temperature region.     

Crystallography,magnetic properties and magnetocaloric effect in Gd4(BixSb1−x)3 alloys

A study of magnetic and thermal properties has been carried out on the alloys from the Gd₄(Bi_xSb_1−x)₃ series with x=0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, and 1. All of the alloys are ferromagnetic below their respective Curie temperatures which vary from 266 K for x=0 to 332 K for x=1.0. The magnetocaloric effect calculated from the temperature and magnetic field dependencies of the magnetization and heat capacity is moderate when compared to that of other materials, which order in the same temperature range. Both the magnetic ordering and the magnetocaloric effect peak temperatures increase nearly linearly with the increasing Bi content. Experimental magnetocaloric effect data obtained from two different measurement techniques are in excellent agreement.