Effect of Mn-site vacancies on the magnetic entropy change and the Curie temperature of La0.67Ca0.33Mn1−xO3 perovskite

Single-phase polycrystalline samples of La_0.67Ca_0.33Mn_1−xO₃ (x=0.00, 0.02, 0.04, 0.06) have been prepared using the sol-gel method. The structure, magnetocaloric properties and the Curie temperature of the samples with different Mn vacancy concentrations have been investigated. The experimental results show that vacancy doping at the Mn-sites has a significant influence on the magnetic properties of La_0.67Ca_0.33Mn_1−xO₃. The Curie temperature decreases monotonically with increasing the Mn-site vacancy concentration x. A remarkable enhancement of the magnetic entropy change has been obtained in the La_0.67Ca_0.33Mn_0.98O₃ sample. The entropy change reaches |ΔS_M|=3.10 J kg⁻¹ K⁻¹ at its Curie temperature (264 K) under an applied magnetic field H=10 kOe, which is almost the same value as that of pure Gd.     

Magnetocaloric effect of GdCo2−xAlx compounds

The structure, magnetic property and magnetocaloric effect of GdCo_2−xAl_x (x=0, 0.06, 0.12, 0.18, 0.24, 0.4) compounds have been investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and magnetic measurement techniques. The experimental results show that the GdCo_2−xAl_x (x≤0.4) compounds are single phase with a Laves-phase MgCu₂-type structure. The Curie temperature T_c initially increases, and then decreases with increasing Al content. The maximum value of T_c, 418 K, is reached for the compound with x=0.06. The magnetic entropy change, which is determined from the temperature and field dependence of the magnetization by the Maxwell relation, decreases almost linearly with increasing Al content.     

Oscillations in magnetocaloric effect and magnetic properties of RE2Al3Si2 (for RE=Dy,Ho and Er) and REAlSi (for RE=Ce and Pr)

We present the magnetic and thermal properties of a series of compounds RE₂Al₃Si₂ for RE=Dy, Ho, Er, and REAlSi for RE=Pr, Ce. The 2–3–2 family crystallizes with themonoclinic Y₂Al₃Si₂-type structure while the 1–1–1 family crystallizes in the body-centered tetragonal α-ThSi₂-type structure. The measurements were done on single crystals, grown using high-temperature flux technique and molten Al as a solvent . Susceptibility and heat capacity data were taken from 1.8 to 200 K, from the heat capacity data, the isothermal magnetic entropy change was obtained. Our results indicate signal oscillations in magnetocaloric properties for those compounds, in particular, Dy₂Al₃Si₂ that shows an anomaly that can be associated with a spin reorientation. Similar results are known for some Dy discilicides and dialluminades.     

Magnetocaloric effect in DyCu2

The magnetocaloric effect of the rare-earth intermetallic compound DyCu₂ is explored through magnetization measurements. DyCu₂ is paramagnetic at the room temperature but becomes antiferromagnetic below 27 K (Neel temperature). Strong temperature and field dependence of magnetization in DyCu₂ at and around the Neel temperature lead to a large magnetocaloric effect. An appreciable magnetocaloric effect persists well above the Neel temperature probably because of the presence of short-range ferromagnetic correlations in the paramagnetic state of DyCu₂. This along with the absence of magnetic hysteresis lead to a large effective refrigerant capacity of 194 J/kg below 44 K, which makes the material important as a potential magnetic refrigerant for the cryogenic liquefier cycles.     

The XPS and XAES spectra of Na0.88Mn0.56PS3

Na_0.88Mn_0.56PS₃compounds have been synthesized by starting from MnPS₃ polycrystalline powders by means of a two-step cation-exchange process at a higher intercalation time than the one used for producing the literature reported Na_0.62Mn_0.69PS₃ compounds. The obtained samples have been characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The resulting spectra of the so-synthesized compounds have been compared with those observed in Na_0.62Mn_0.69PS₃ in our previous paper and similar electronic properties have been noted. In particular by XPS it has been shown that greater sodium content affects neither the core-level binding energies of the host matrix elements nor the type of link between Na⁺ and (Mn_1−xPS₃)⁻.     

Magnetic and photomagnetic studies in Nd0.7Sr0.3CoO3

We report magnetic and photomagnetic studies on polycrystalline Nd_0.7Sr_0.3CoO₃. Strong irreversibility in field cooled and zero field cooled data is observed. The hysteresis plot exhibits a very high coercivity at low temperatures. On photon irradiation, a decrease in the coercivity and an irreversible magnetization enhancement are observed. The analysis of all these data suggest that microscopic phase separation of competing ferromagnetism and antiferromagnetism and/or light-induced spin conversion processes among low, intermediate and high spin states of cobalt ions are responsible for all the properties.     

Amorphization Induced High Magneto-Caloric Effect of Gd55Al20Ni25 Ternary Alloy

We report the amorphization induced high magneto-caloric effect （MCE） of recently developed Gd55Al15Ni30 bulk metallic glass （BMG）. The magnetic properties of the Gd55Al15Ni30 BMG are investigated in comparison with that of its crystalline counterpart. It is found that amorphization can increase the saturation magnetization and decrease the hysteresis of Gd55Al15Ni30 alloys, which indicate the possible enhancement of MCE. The magnetic entropy changes and the refrigerant capacity of the BMG as well as the crystalline samples is calculated directly from isothermal magnetic measurements. The results show the amorphization induced high MCE of the alloy and the excellent refrigerant efficiency of Gd55Al15Ni30 bulk metallic glass.     

Superconductivity coexisting with ferromagnetism in mixed-valence Mn doped La1.85−(4/3)xSr0.15+(4/3)xCu1−xMnxO4

The effect of Mn substitution for Cu in mixed-valence Mn doped La_{1.85−(4/3)x}Sr_0.15+(4/3)xCu_1−xMn_xO₄ (x=0.06) has been investigated by electric resistivity, magnetization and electron spin resonance experiments. Coexistence of superconductivity and ferromagnetism was observed.     

Superconductivity with transition temperature up to 80 K for TbSr2Cu2.7Mo0.3O7+δ

A Tb-123 phase with the composition, TbSr₂Cu_2.7Mo_0.3O_7+δ, has been synthesized in single-phase form by the solid-state reaction route. Its phase purity has been confirmed from neutron powder diffraction studies. The as-synthesized Tb-123 sample does not show superconductivity down to 5 K. On the other hand, an unusually high antiferromagnetic ordering temperature (T_N) of around 7 K is seen for the Tb moments. After 120-atm-O₂ post-annealing, bulk superconductivity is achieved in this compound with a superconducting transition temperature (T_c) of about 30 K, without any significant effect on T_N. To achieve higher oxygen content and higher T_c, the as-synthesized sample was subjected to high-pressure oxygenation, carried out in a closed cell, at 5 GPa and 400 °C in the presence of AgO as an excess-oxygen source. This sample exhibited superconductivity onset at around 80 K with a Meissner fraction larger than 10% at 5 K. Our observation of superconductivity at 80 K is the highest T_c to-date for the Tb-123 type compounds.     

Magnetocaloric properties of DyCo2−xGax alloys

The influence of the substitution of Ga atoms for Co atoms in DyCo₂ compounds on magnetocaloric properties has been investigated. A series of DyCo_2−xGa_x alloys with x=0, 0.03, 0.06, 0.1, 0.15, and 0.2 was prepared by the arc-melting method for this investigation. Experimental results revealed that the Ga substitution for Co in DyCo₂ can form a single phase with the cubic Laves phase structure up to x=0.2. As the Ga content x increases, the lattice parameter and the Curie temperature T_c increases from 143 to 196 K linearly. The maximum magnetic entropy changes in a low field change of 0-1.5 T, increasing from 8.24 to 10.61 J/K kg when the Ga content x increases from 0 to 0.03, but decreasing gradually to 3.51 J/K kg as the Ga content further increases to x=0.2. All the samples show a relatively large magnetic entropy change with very small hysteresis loss.     

Magnetic properties of MnCr2O4 nanoparticle

The exchange interactions and the magnetic exchange energies are calculated by using the mean field theory and the probability law of Zn_1−xMn_xCr₂O₄ nanoparticles. The high-temperature series expansions have been applied in the spinels Zn_1−xMn_xCr₂O₄ systems, combined with the Padé approximants method, to determine the magnetic phase diagram, i.e. T_C versus dilution x. The critical exponent associated with the magnetic susceptibility (γ) is deduced. The obtained value of γ is insensitive to the dilution ratio x and may be compared with other theoretical results based on the 3D Heisenberg model.     

Synthesis and magnetic characterization of cobalt-substituted ferrite (CoxFe3−xO4) nanoparticles

Cobalt-substituted ferrite nanoparticles were synthesized with a narrow size distribution using reverse micelles formed in the system water/AOT/isooctane. Fe:Co ratios of 3:1, 4:1, and 5:1 were used in the synthesis, obtaining cobalt-substituted ferrites (Co_xFe_3−xO₄) and some indication of γ-Fe₃O₄ when 4:1 and 5:1 Fe:Co ratios were used. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS) verified the presence of cobalt in all samples. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) showed bands at ∼560 and ∼400 cm⁻¹, characteristic of the metal–oxygen bond in ferrites. Transmission electron microscopy showed that the number median diameter of the particles was ∼3 nm with a geometric deviation of ∼0.2. X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed the inverse spinel structure typical of ferrites with a lattice parameter of a=8.388 Å for Co_0.61Fe_0.39O₄, which is near that of CoFe₂O₄ (a=8.394 Å). Magnetic properties were determined using a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID). Coercivities higher than 8 kOe were observed at 5 K, whereas at 300 K the particles showed superparamagnetic behavior. The anisotropy constant was determined based on the Debye model for a magnetic dipole in an oscillating field and an expression relating χ′ and the temperature of the in-phase susceptibility peak. Anisotropy constant values in the order of ∼10⁶ erg/cm³ were determined using the Debye model, whereas anisotropy constants in the order of ∼10⁷ erg/cm³ were calculated assuming Ωτ=1 at the temperature peak of the in-phase component of the susceptibility curve as commonly done in the literature. Our analysis demonstrates that the assumption Ωτ=1 at the temperature peak of χ′ is rigorously incorrect.     

Electrical and magnetic properties of non-stoichiometric (La0.8Sr0.2)1−xMnO3 perovskites

The structure, transport and magnetic properties of (La_0.8Sr_0.2)_1−xMnO₃ (0≤x≤0.30) polycrystalline perovskite manganites have been investigated. For all the samples the Curie temperatures, T_c, remain nearly unchanged (329±3 K). Resistivity versus temperature curves for the samples show a double-peak behavior. A significant magnetoresistance (MR) effect and different temperature dependences of the MR ratios of the samples are observed. The shapes of the MR-T curves of the samples can be adjusted by changing x. For the x=0.30 sample, a nearly constant MR ratio of (9.5±0.5)% is obtained over the temperature range from 205 to 328 K.     

Effect of interchain coupling on spin correlation functions of spin-1 Heisenberg antiferromagnet CsNiCl3

The inelastic neutron-scattering experiment on CsNiCl₃ gives much bigger total intensity of multi-particle continuum than the theoretical calculation by the (1+1$1+1$)-dimensional O(3) non-linear σ-model. Three-dimensional effect has to be considered. A scenario was proposed where the interchain interaction is treated as an effective staggered magnetic field. We propose another model to approximately include the effect of the interchain coupling, and use the large-N expansion to do the calculations. In this circumstance we find that the Néel temperature is about 5 K, and also that for a range of wave-vectors the single magnon is unstable and will decay into three magnons.     

The magnetic and magnetocaloric effect of (Mn0.5Co0.5)65Ge35 alloy in low magnetic field

The crystal structure and magnetocaloric effect (MCE) of water-quenched and annealed (Mn_0.5Co_0.5)₆₅Ge₃₅ alloys were studied in this paper. A CoMnGe-single phase was formed in the water-quenched alloy, and mixture phases of CoMnGe and Mn+2O in the annealed alloy. The annealed alloy has a smaller crystal parameter than the water-quenched alloy. The Curie temperature is 275 and 298 K for the water-quenched and annealed alloys, respectively, which means that the magnetic-transition temperature in this material can be controlled by anneal. In addition, the same magnetic entropy change was found in these two alloys, even though their Curie temperatures have a significant difference.     

Study of magnetic properties of Mn1−xCuxCr2S4 by: High-temperature series expansions

The high-temperature series expansions method applied in the systems Mn_1−xCu_xCr₂S₄ in the range 0?x?1. The exchange interactions and the magnetic exchange energies are calculated by using the probability law. The high-temperature series expansions have been applied in the spinel Mn_1−xCu_xCr₂S₄ systems, combined with the Padé approximants method, to determine the magnetic phase diagram, i.e. T_C versus dilution x. The critical exponent associated with the magnetic susceptibility (γ) is deduced. The obtained value of γ is insensitive to the dilution ratio x and may be compared with other theoretical results based on 3D Heisenberg model.     

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy characterization of the layered intercalated compound K2xMn1 − xPS3

Polycrystalline powders of the layered MnPS₃ compound have been intercalated with K⁺ ions by ion-exchange to yield the K_2xMn_1 − xPS₃ intercalate. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy has been applied to learn about the electronic structure of this compound. In particular, we have studied the XPS spectra of the Mn 2p and 3p, P and S 2p, K 2p and 3p core levels and of the valence band region. The binding energies for various core levels of the elements present in this compound and their observed chemical shifts are analyzed. The data give evidence for the lack of non-equivalent atoms of K, Mn, P and S. Shake-up satellites are present at the Mn 2p and 3p core levels. The occurrence of such lines allows us to hypothesize that K_2xMn_1 − xPS₃ is a large-gap insulating Mn compound. Confirmation that only an ion transfer accompanies the intercalation process is given from both the strong observed similarity with the corresponding XPS spectra in MnPS₃ and the observed binding energy positions of the K 2p and 3p levels. As regards the valence band XPS spectrum, the observed analogies with the corresponding XPS spectra of the pure compound and of other K compounds have allowed us to single out two regions and their probable contributors.     

Influence of atmospheric pressure plasma treatment time on penetration depth of surface modification into fabric

In order to determine the relationship between the treatment duration of atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ) and the penetration depth of the surface modification into textile structures, a four-layer stack of polyester woven fabrics was exposed to helium/oxygen APPJ for different treatment durations. The water-absorption time for the top and the bottom sides of each fabric layer was reduced from 200 s to almost 0 s. The capillary flow height for all fabric layers in the stack increased linearly with the treatment duration but the rate of increasing reduced linearly with the fabric layer number. A model for the capillary flow height as a function of treatment duration and the layer number was established based on the experimental data and the maximum penetration depth of the APPJ was predicted for the polyester fabric. The improved wettability of the fabrics was attributed to the enhanced surface roughness due to plasma etching and the surface chemical composition change due to plasma-induced chemical reaction as detected by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, respectively. The surface roughness and the surface chemical composition change diminished as the fabric layer number increased.     

Enhanced superconducting properties of Eu2O3-doped MgB2

Bulk polycrystalline samples of Eu₂O₃-doped MgB₂ have been synthesized by a standard solid state reaction route and their structural and superconducting properties have been investigated. As a function of Eu₂O₃ content we have found a significant increase in the critical current density (J_c) and the irreversibility field (H_irr) in the magnetic field range 0–6 T. The XRD results reveal the presence of MgO and EuB₆ secondary phases along with the main hexagonal phase of MgB₂. The strain values and the lattice distortions have been found to increase almost linearly with the nominal Eu₂O₃ content. The observed significant improvement in J_c(H) and H_irr in the Eu₂O₃-doped MgB₂ samples, thus is mainly attributed to the lattice distortions introduced by Eu₂O₃ doping.     

The large low-field magnetic entropy changes in Ni43Mn46Sn11−xSbx alloys

A series of Ni₄₃Mn₄₆Sn_11−xSb_x (x=0, 1, and 3) alloys were prepared by an arc melting method. The martensitic transition shifts to higher temperature with the increasing Sb content. The isothermal magnetization curves and Arrott plots around martensitic transition temperatures show a typical metamagnetic behavior. Under a low applied magnetic field of 10 kOe, large magnetic entropy changes around the martensitic transition temperature are 10.4, 8.9, and 7.3 J/kg K, for x=0, 1, and 3, respectively. The origin of the large magnetic entropy changes and potential application for Ni₄₃Mn₄₆Sn_11−xSb_x alloys as working substances in magnetic refrigeration are discussed.