Hyperfine interactions in nanocrystallized NANOPERM-type metallic glass containing Mo

NANOPERM-type alloy with chemical composition Fe₇₆Mo₈CuB₁₅ was studied by combination of ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy and ⁵⁷Fe(¹⁰B, ¹¹B) nuclear magnetic resonance in order to determine distribution of hyperfine magnetic fields and evolution of relative concentration of Fe-containing crystalline phases within the surface layer and the volume of the nanocrystallized ribbons with annealing temperature. Differential scanning calorimetry revealed two crystallization stages at T_x1 ～ 510 ^°C and T_x2 ～ 640 ^°C, connected to precipitation of α-Fe and Fe(Mo,B) nanocrystals, respectively. The amorphous and partially crystalline state was obtained by annealing at several temperatures in the range 510-650 ^°C. The combination of conversion electron (CEMS) and transmission Mössbauer spectrometry (TMS) showed that annealing induces crystallization starting from both surfaces of the ribbons. For the as-quenched sample, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and CEMS revealed significant differences in the “air” and “wheel” sides of the ribbons, crystallites were preferentially formed at the latter. While SEM micrographs of annealed samples showed various mean diameters of the crystals at opposite sides of the ribbons, the amounts of crystalline volume derived from the CEMS spectra approximately equaled. Mössbauer spectra of annealed samples contained narrow sextet ascribed to crystalline α-Fe phase, three sextets with distribution of hyperfine field assigned to the interface regions of the nanocrystals and the contribution of the amorphous phases. In-field TMS performed at 4.2 K with magnetic moments aligned by external magnetic field enabled to properly determine in particular the contribution of the amorphous phases in the samples. Resulting distributions of the hyperfine fields were compared with ⁵⁷Fe(¹⁰B, ¹¹B) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra.     

Magnetic State of Quasiordered Fe–Al Alloys Doped with Ga and B: Magnetic Phase Separation and Spin Order

Results of structural, magnetic, and Mössbauer studies of quasi ordered alloys Fe₆₅Al_{35 ? x}M _x (M _x = Ga, B; x = 0, 5 at %) are presented. The magnetic state of examined structurally–single-phase alloys at low temperatures is interpreted from the viewpoint of magnetic phase separation. An explanation is proposed for the observed behavior of magnetic characteristics of Fe₆₅Al₃₅ and Fe₆₅Al₃₀Ga₅ in the framework of the model of two magnetic phases, a ferromagnetic-type one and a spin density wave. The boron-doped alloy Fe₆₅Al₃₀B₅ is shown to demonstrate behavior that is typical of materials with the ferromagnetic type of ordering.     

<Superscript>57</Superscript>Fe NMR study of amorphous and rapidly quenched crystalline Fe-B alloys

Amorphous and crystalline Fe-B alloys (5–25 at % B) were studied using pulsed ⁵⁷Fe nuclear magneticr esonance at 4.2 K. The alloy samples were prepared from a mixture of the ⁵⁷Fe and ¹⁰B isotopes by rapid quenching from the melt. In the microcrystalline Fe-(5–12 at %) B alloys, the resonance frequencies were measured for local states of ⁵⁷Fe nuclei in the tetragonal and orthorhombic Fe₃B phases and also in α-Fe. The resonance frequencies characteristic of ⁵⁷Fe nuclei in α-Fe crystallites with substitutional impurity boron atoms in the nearest neighborhood were also revealed. In the resonance frequency distribution P(f) in the amorphous Fe-(18–25) at % B alloys, there are frequencies corresponding to local Fe atom states with short-range order of the tetragonal and orthorhombic Fe₃B phases. As the boron content decreases below 18 at %, the P(f) distributions are shifted to higher frequencies corresponding to ⁵⁷Fe NMR for atoms exhibiting a short-range order of the α-Fe type. The local magnetic structure of the amorphous Fe-B alloys is also considered.     

Research on preparing compact bulk nanocomposite Nd2Fe14B/α-Fe magnetic materials by hot extrusion

In this paper, compact bulk nanocomposite Nd₂Fe₁₄B/α-Fe magnetic materials were prepared by hot extrusion of amorphous and nanocrystalline powders, which were prepared by high-energy ball-milling (HEBM) of the Nd₂Fe₁₄ B-type hard magnetic phase with 20 vol% of α-Fe as soft magnetic phase. The extrusion temperature has important influence on magnetic properties and microstructure of magnetic materials. The results show that the grain size of Nd₂Fe₁₄B and α-Fe phase increases steadily with increasing extrusion temperature. Furthermore, optimal extrusion temperature of 1223 K occurs, at which the highest magnetic properties and relative density can be obtained.     

Short-range order in amorphous ferromagnetic Fe-B alloys

Amorphous and quenched crystalline Fe-B alloys in the composition range of 4–25 at % B were prepared by melt spinning and investigated by ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy at T = 87 K. The states of iron atoms in the α-Fe phases, including iron atoms having boron atoms in the nearest coordination sphere, and in the orthorhombic (o) and tetragonal (T) Fe₂B phases are detected in the microcrystalline alloys. The short-range order and the local atomic structure of the amorphous Fe-B alloys are determined. The amorphous alloys consist of microregions (clusters) with short-range order of the t- and o-Fe₂B and α-Fe types. The dependence of the content of various types of clusters on the alloy composition is quantitatively estimated.     

Surface oxidation of Fe-Si alloy

The phase compositions at the surface of Fe₉₄Si₆ alloy samples were investigated. The phase analyses of the surfaces of samples annealed in vacuum, oxygen, and argon atmospheres were performed by Mössbauer spectroscopy and photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The formation of pure α-Fe, fayalite, hematite, and magnetite was observed in dependence on surface preparation and chemical composition of surrounding atmospheres during heat treatments.     

Mössbauer spectroscopy of H,L and LL ordinary chondrites

Fifteen fragments of H, L and LL ordinary chondrites were studied using Mössbauer spectroscopy with a high velocity resolution at 295 K. A new approach to fit troilite magnetic sextet using simulation of the full static Hamiltonian was applied that decreased spectra misfits. This approach permitted to obtain more correct and reliable parameters for the minor spectral components. Small variations in the ⁵⁷Fe hyperfine parameters were revealed for the M1 and M2 sites in both olivine and orthopyroxene as well as for α-Fe(Ni, Co), α ₂-Fe(Ni, Co) and γ-Fe(Ni, Co) phases in different ordinary chondrites. Some Mössbauer parameters showed the possibility to distinguish ordinary chondrites from H, L and LL groups that may be useful for their systematics.     

Re-examination of Dronino iron meteorite and its weathering products using Mössbauer spectroscopy with a high velocity resolution

Re-examination of Dronino iron meteorite and products of its weathering in the internal and external surface layers was carried out using Mössbauer spectroscopy with a high velocity resolution. New results showed the presence of α-Fe(Ni, Co), α ₂-Fe(Ni, Co) and γ-Fe(Ni, Co) phases with variations in Ni concentration in Dronino metallic iron alloy. The surface weathering products were supposed as magnetite and/or maghemite, goethite with different particles size and probably ferrihydrite in the internal layer and goethite with different particles size and probably ferrihydrite in the external layer.     

Iron oxide and iron carbide particles produced by the polyol method

Iron oxide (γ-Fe₂O₃) and iron carbide (Fe₃C) particles were produced by the polyol method. Ferrocene, which was employed as an iron source, was decomposed in a mixture of 1,2-hexadecandiol, oleylamine, and 1-octadecene. Particles were characterized using Mössbauer spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy. It was found that oleylamine acted as a capping reagent, leading to uniform-sized (12-16 nm) particles consisting of γ-Fe ₂O₃. On the other hand, 1-octadecene acted as a non-coordinating solvent and a carbon source, which led to particles consisting of Fe₃C and α-Fe with various sizes.     

Comparative study of Aliskerovo,Anyujskij, Sikhote-Alin and Sterlitamak iron meteorites using Mössbauer spectroscopy

A comparative study of Sikhote-Alin IIAB, Anyujskij IIAB, Aliskerovo IIIE-an and Sterlitamak IIIAB iron meteorites was carried out using Mössbauer spectroscopy with a high velocity resolution as well as using metallography, scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. Different numbers of spectral components were found in the Mössbauer spectra of Sikhote-Alin IIAB and Anyujskij IIAB and in the spectra of Aliskerovo IIIE-an and Sterlitamak IIIAB iron meteorites. The values of hyperfine field at the ⁵⁷Fe nuclei obtained for spectral components were related to α-Fe(Ni, Co), α ₂-Fe(Ni, Co) and γ-Fe(Ni, Co) phases with variations in Ni concentration.     

The <Superscript>57</Superscript>Fe hyperfine interactions in the iron-bearing phases in some LL ordinary chondrites

The study of several LL ordinary chondrites such as NWA 6286 LL6, NWA 7857 LL6 and Chelyabinsk LL5 fragments with different lithology was carried out using scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersion spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy with a high velocity resolution at 295 K. Small variations in the ⁵⁷Fe hyperfine parameters were revealed for the M1 and M2 sites in olivine, orthopyroxene and clinopyroxene as well as for α-Fe(Ni, Co), α ₂-Fe(Ni, Co) and γ-Fe(Ni, Co) phases, and for troilite in different samples of studied LL ordinary chondrites.     

Mössbauer study of products from the arc synthesis of Fe-carbon nanoclusters

This paper presents the results of research into the phase and magnetic state of products of the arc synthesis of Fe-carbon nanoclusters by Mössbauer spectroscopy. These nanoclusters are prepared by the burning of iron-graphite electrodes and carbon-condensate extraction in organic solvents of varying polarity. The local inhomogeneity of the distribution of iron atoms is revealed in the studied samples. It is found that iron atoms are distributed between four iron-containing phases: α-Fe, γ-Fe, FeC _n and iron carbide FeC₂ at different ratios with an accuracy to the resonant absorption factor f. It is shown that the singlet line with a negative chemical shift observed in the Mössbauer spectra of the samples corresponds to the γ-Fe phase and not to iron metallofullerene.     

Ab initio calculations of the stability and structural defects of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">B</Emphasis>2 Cu<Subscript>x</Subscript>Fe<Subscript>1−<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Al phases

The stability of the B2 Cu_xFe_1?x Al phases and the energy of defect formation are studied using ab initio band calculations. For B2 Cu_xFe_1?x Al alloys, vacancies in the 3d-metal sublattice and configurations with the minimum number of Fe-Cu bonds in the first coordination shell (including Fe antisite defects, which have a high local magnetic moment) are most stable. Complicated defect complexes with vacancies and displaced atoms, which are close to the atomic configurations of vacancy-ordered AlCu phases, can exist near the composition Cu_0.875Fe_0.125Al.     

Global geometric entanglement and quantum phase transition in three-leg spin-3/2 Heisenberg tubes

Based on the tensor network representations, we have developed an efficient scheme to calculate the global geometric entanglement as a multipartite entanglement measure for the three-leg spin tubes. From the geometric entanglement, the phase diagram of a spin-3 / 2 isosceles triangle spin tube has been investigated varying the base interaction α. Two Berezinsky-Kosterlitz-Thouless phase transitions are estimated to be α_c1 ? 0.68 and α_c2 ? 3.85, respectively. Then, even though the spin tube is in gapless spin liquid phases for α<α_c1 and α >α_c2, the geometrical structure difference between the groundstate wavefunctions for the two regions is found to reflect the global geometric entanglement that contains bipartite and multipartite contributions. Further, the phase transition points from the von Neumann entropies and fidelity are consistent with that from the geometric entanglement. As a result, the global geometric entanglement can be used to explore a geometrical nature of quantum phases as well as an indicator for quantum phase transitions in many-body lattice systems.     

Positive magnetoresistance effect in rare earth cobaltites

The structure, magnetic, and magnetotransport properties of the Pr_0.5Sr_0.5Co_{1 ? x} Fe _x O₃ system have been studied. The ferromagnet-spin glass (x = 0.5)-G-type antiferromagnet (x = 0.7) transitions and the metal—insulator transitions (x = 0.25) have been revealed. It has been established that the magnetoresistance of the metallic ferromagnetic cobaltites changes sign from positive to negative as the external magnetic field increases. The positive component increases and the negative component decreases with decreasing temperature. The negative magnetoresistance increases sharply in the insulating spinglass phase. Possible causes of the low-magnetic-field positive magnetoresistance in the rare earth metallic cobaltites are discussed.     

Strong short-range magnetic order in a frustrated FCC lattice and its possible role in the iron structural transformation

The magnetic properties of a frustrated Heisenberg antiferromagnet with the fcc lattice and exchange interaction between the nearest (J ₁) and next-to-nearest (J ₂) neighbors are studied in this work. For the collinear phase with the wave vector Q= (π,π,π), the equations of the self-consistent spin-wave theory are obtained and solved numerically for the sublattice magnetization and the averaged short-range order parameter. The dependence of the Néel temperatureT _N on the ratio J ₂/J ₁ is found. It is shown that, in the case of a sufficiently strong frustration, strong short-range magnetic order persists over a wide temperature range above T _N. The possible application of this result to the mechanism of structural phase transition from α-Fe to γ-Fe is considered.     

High-temperature redistribution of cation vacancies and irreversible magnetic transitions in the Fe<Subscript>1−<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>S nanodisks observed by the Mössbauer spectroscopy and magnetic measurements

The hexagonal pyrrhotite Fe_1?x S nanodisks with the NiAs-type structure were synthesized by thermal decomposition of ferrous chloride and thiourea in oleylamine. The Mössbauer spectroscopy and magnetic measurements data indicate that a mixture of antiferromagnetic (AFM) and ferrimagnetic (FRM) phases with the NC (N ≥ 3) and 2C-type superstructures is present in the Fe_1?x S compound at temperatures between 80 K and Néel temperature T _N. At T < 370 K, the AFM phase prevails over the FRM phase. At T > 370 K, a redistribution of iron vacancies takes place, and the vacancy ordering transforms from the NC (N ≥ 3) to 2C-type which essentially increases the magnetization with maximum value at 470 K. Heating the sample above the Néel temperature 565 K leads to a random distribution of vacancies, and this state is quenched upon subsequent cooling of the sample to 300 K. This gives rise to a pure AFM structure with a zero magnetic moment due to a total compensation of the moments in neighboring iron layers. Thus, the high-temperature redistribution of cation vacancies leads to irreversible magnetic transformations in the Fe_1?x S nanoparticles.     

Effect of the Structural Disorder and Short-Range Order on the Electronic Structure and Magnetic Properties of the Fe<Subscript>2</Subscript>VAl Heusler Alloy

The Fe₂VAl Heusler alloy is of great interest because ab initio calculations predict the absence of magnetization in it and a half-metal behavior with a pseudogap at the Fermi level. At the same time, experimental data (low-temperature specific heat, electrical resistivity, and magnetic properties) show that it is difficult to achieve such characteristics, and Fe₂VAl samples usually have the characteristics of a poor magnetic metal. Ab initio calculations have been performed for ordered and disordered (Fe_1–xV _x )₃Al Heusler alloys with x = 0.33. It has been shown that the alloy in a structurally ordered state (L2₁ structure) is a half-metal with a deep pseudogap at the Fermi level and does not have magnetization. At the same time, antisite defects in the iron and vanadium sublattices of the disordered alloy (D0₃ structure) lead to an increase in the conductivity and to the appearance of spin polarization and magnetization of (2.1±0.1)μ_B/f.u. The short-range order in the disordered phase has been generated by increasing the concentration of clusters characteristic of the bcc structure of α-Fe, which results in an increase in the magnetization to (2.5±0.1)μ_B/f.u.     

Structural and magnetic phase transformations in the BiFeO<Subscript>3</Subscript>-CaFe<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>Nb<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> system

The crystal structure and magnetic properties of the Bi_{1 ? x} Ca _x Fe_{1 ? x/2}Nb _x/2O₃ system were studied. It is shown that, at x ≤ 0.15, the unit-cell symmetry of solid solutions is rhombohedral (space group R3c). Solid solutions with x ≥ 0.3 have an orthorhombic unit cell (space group Pbnm). The rhombohedral compositions are antiferromagnetic, while the orthorhombic compositions exhibit a small spontaneous magnetization due to Dzyaloshinski?-Moriya interaction. In CaFe_0.5Nb_0.5O₃, the Fe³⁺ and Nb⁵⁺ ions are partially ordered and the unit cell is monoclinic (space group P2₁/n). In the concentration range 0.15 < x < 0.30, a two-phase state (R3c + Pbnm) is revealed.     

Aluminium-based amorphous and nanocrystalline alloys with Fe impurity

Aluminium-based rapidly quenched alloys of nominal composition of Al₉₀Fe₇Nb₃ and Al₉₄Fe₂V₄ were studied by Mössbauer spectroscopy. Samples annealed up to 573K showed amorphous structure represented by quadrupole-split doublets. From the corrected spectra areas, the values of f-factor and Debye temperature were calculated for both samples in the as-cast state. In the case of AlFeNb sample, f-factor was estimated to be f = 0.26 and for AlFeV, f = 0.31. High-temperature annealing at 773K and 873K induced a formation of nano-and microcrystalline structures. Mössbauer spectra of both compositions (with vanadium as well as with niobium) annealed at 773K showed superposition of crystalline phases with dominant contribution of Al₃Fe alloy. During annealing at 873K, phases with large grains and a small amount of the FeAl metastable phase were developed.