Magnetic properties and specific heat of Dy1−xLaxNi2 compounds

Magnetic and specific heat measurements have been carried out on polycrystalline series of single-phase Dy_1−xLa_xNi₂ (0?x?1) solid solutions. The compounds have a Laves-phase superstructure (space group F4¯3m) with the lattice parameter gradually increasing with decreasing Dy content. The samples with x?0.8 are ferromagnetic with the Curie temperature below 22 K. At high temperatures, all solid solutions are Curie-Weiss paramagnets. The Debye temperature, phonon and conduction electron contributions as well as a magnetic contribution to the heat capacity have been determined from specific heat measurements. The magnetocaloric effect was estimated from specific heat measurements performed in a magnetic field of 0.42 and 4.2 T.     

Structural and magnetic properties of Mg(In2−xMnx)O4 system

We synthesized the Mn-doped Mg(In_2−xMn_x)O₄ oxides with 0.03?x?0.55 using a solid-state reaction method. The X-ray diffraction patterns of the samples were in a good agreement with that of a distorted orthorhombic spinel phase. Their lattice parameters and unit-cell volumes decrease with x due to the substitution of the smaller Mn³⁺ ions to the larger In³⁺ ions. The undoped MgIn₂O₄ oxide presents diamagnetic signals for 5 K?T?300 K. The M(H) at T=300 K reveals a fairly negative-sloped linear relationship. Neither magnetic hysteresis nor saturation behavior was observed in this parent sample. For the Mn-doped samples, however, positive magnetization were observed between 5 and 300 K even if the x value is as low as 0.03. The mass susceptibility enhances with Mn content and it reaches the highest value of 1.4×10⁻³ emu/g Oe (at T=300 K) at x=0.45. Furthermore, the Mn-doped oxides with x=0.06 and 0.2, respectively, exhibit nonlinear magnetization curves and small hysteretic loops in low magnetic fields. Susceptibilities of the Mn-doped samples are much higher than those of MnO₂, Mn₂O₃ oxides, and Mn metals. These results show that the oxides have potential to be magnetic semiconductors.     

Structure and magnetic properties of (Nd,Dy)16(Fe,Co)76−xTixB8 powders prepared by mechanical alloying

Nanocrystalline (Nd,Dy)₁₆(Fe,Co)_76−xTi_xB₈ magnets were prepared by mechanical alloying and respective heat treatment at 973–1073 K/30–60 min. An addition of 0.5 at % of Ti results in an increase of coercivity from 796 to 1115 kA m⁻¹. Partial substitution of Nd by Dy results in an additional increase of coercivity up to 1234 kA m⁻¹. Mössbauer investigations shows that for x?1 the (Nd,Dy)₁₆(Fe,Co)_76−xTi_xB₈ powders are single phase. For higher Ti contents (x>1) the mechanically alloyed powders heat treated at 973 K are no more single phase, and the coercivity decreases due to the presence of an amorphous phase. A heat treatment at a higher temperature (1073 K) for longer time (1 h) results in the full recrystallisation of powders. The mean hyperfine field of the Nd₂Fe₁₄B phase decreases for titanium contents of 0?x?1, and remains constant for x>1. This indicates that the Ti content in the Nd₂Fe₁₄B phase reaches its maximum value.     

Magnetic and electrical properties of amorphous Ge1−xCrx thin films grown by low temperature vapor deposition

Amorphous Ge_1−xCr_x thin films are deposited on (1 0 0)Si by using a thermal evaporator. Amorphous phase is obtained when Cr concentration is lower than 30.7 at%. The electrical resistivities are 1.89×10⁻³–0.96×10² Ω cm at 300 K, and decrease with Cr concentration. The Ge_1−xCr_x thin films are p-type. The hole concentrations are 5×10¹⁶–7×10²¹ cm⁻³ at 300 K, and increase with Cr concentration. Magnetizations are 7.60–1.57 emu/cm³ at 5 K in the applied field of 2 T. The magnetizations decrease with Cr concentration and temperature. Magnetization characteristics show that the Ge_1−xCr_x thin films are paramagnetic.     

Defect formation and transport in mixed-conducting La0.90Sr0.10Al0.85−xFexMg0.15O3−δ

The redox behavior of perovskite-type La_0.90Sr_0.10Al_0.85−xFe_xMg_0.15O_3−δ (x=0.20-0.40) mixed conductors was analyzed by the Mössbauer spectroscopy and measurements of the total conductivity and Seebeck coefficient in the oxygen partial pressure range from 10⁻²⁰ to 0.5 atm at 1023-1223 K. The results combined with oxygen-ion transference numbers determined by the faradaic efficiency technique in air, were used to calculate defect concentrations, mobilities, and partial ionic and p- and n-type electronic conductivities as a function of oxygen pressure. The redox and transport processes can be adequately described in terms of oxygen intercalation and iron disproportionation reactions, with the thermodynamic functions independent of defect concentrations. No essential delocalization of the electronic charge carriers was found. The oxygen non-stoichiometry values estimated from the conductivity vs. p(O₂) dependencies, coincide with those evaluated from the Mössbauer spectra.     

The magnetic susceptibility of hydrogen-doped partially crystalline (Zr76Ni24)1−xHx metallic glasses

The magnetizations of Zr₇₆Ni₂₄ metallic glass and hydrogen-doped partially crystalline (Zr₇₆Ni₂₄)_1−xH_x metallic glasses have been measured in the temperature range 10-300 K and magnetic fields up to 2 T for various dopant concentrations (x=0, 0.024, 0.043, 0.054). It is found that the samples are paramagnetic and magnetic susceptibility at room temperature, χ(300 K), shows a nonmonotonic behaviour upon hydrogenation. The values of χ(300 K) of the hydrogen-doped partially crystalline (Zr₇₆Ni₂₄)_1−xH_x metallic glasses are reduced with increase in hydrogen content up to x=0.043, whereas for x=0.054, an enhancement of χ(300 K) has been revealed. The magnetic susceptibility is weakly temperature dependent down to 110 K, below which an increase is observed. A shallow minimum exists between 90 and 120 K. The form and magnitude of the observed temperature dependence of the magnetic susceptibility are well accounted for by the sum of the quantum corrections to the magnetic susceptibility. Hydrogen reduces the electronic diffusion constant and influences strongly the quantum interference at defects, slowing down the spin diffusion and enhancing the magnetic susceptibility in the temperature range from 110 down to 10 K.     

Fabrication and characterization of electrodeposited Co1−xCrx nanowires

Co_1−xCr_x   alloy nanowires with 0.01<x<0.93$0.01<x<0.93$ were fabricated by electrodeposition in a porous alumina membrane from an electrolyte containing Co and Cr ions. The composition, structure and magnetic properties of the nanowires have been characterized. Cobalt-rich nanowires were electrodeposited at a potential of −1.0 V relative to Ag/AgCl and chromium-rich nanowires were deposited beyond −3.5 V. The optimized processing conditions include hydrogen annealing to give hysteresis loops for the Co₈₀Cr₂₀ nanowires with coercivity of up to 200 mT and squareness of up to 0.95. Magnetization of the Co₈₀Cr₂₀ nanowire is 77 A m² kg⁻¹ and the energy product of the arrays is 35 kJ m⁻³.     

Analysis of Raman scattering of Ga1−xMnxAs dilute magnetic semiconductor

Ferromagnetic Ga_1−xMn_xAs layers (where x=1.4-3.0%) grown on (1 0 0) GaAs substrates by molecular beam epitaxy were characterized using Raman spectroscopy. As Mn is introduced into GaAs, a marked increase in disorder in the material occurs, as indicated by the growth of the disorder-allowed transverse-optical Raman line. Another important result is that as the Mn concentration in Ga_1−xMn_xAs increases further beyond ca. 2%, Raman-active coupled-plasmon-longitudinal-optical phonon modes arise, which signals the increasing presence of holes, and thus provides a useful tool for determining their concentration. Using the depletion-layer approach from the Raman spectroscopy data, we determined the carrier concentration for samples with x=2.2% and 3.0% was to be 7.2×10¹⁹ and 8.3×10²⁰ cm⁻³, respectively.     

Heat capacity and magnetic properties of pyrochlore Hg2Os2O7

Hg₂Os₂O₇, which has the cubic pyrochlore structure, remains metallic down to the liquid helium temperature unlike its isostructural counterpart Cd₂Os₂O₇, which shows metal-insulator transition at 226 K. Magnetization and heat capacity data for Hg₂Os₂O₇ are presented. The magnetic anomaly at T_N=88 K shares many characteristics in common with the metal-insulator transition in Cd₂Os₂O₇, though Hg₂Os₂O₇ remains metallic below T_N. The heat capacity C_p shows no or very little change in the magnetic entropy around T_N, supporting the view that there is no long-range ordering of localized spins. The measured value of electronic heat-capacity coefficient γ=21 mJ K⁻²mol⁻¹ is comparable to the value obtained from band-structure calculation on Cd₂Os₂O₇, suggesting that mass-enhancement is small in Hg₂Os₂O₇. There is a pronounced peak in C_p/T³ at 13.1 K, which corresponds to a peak in the phonon density of states at 40 cm⁻¹.     

Ferromagnetism of epitaxially grown CaRu1−xMxO3 (M=Ti, Mn) films

Epitaxial thin films of CaRu_1−xM_xO₃ (M=Ti, Mn) were fabricated on a (0 0 1)-SrTiO₃ substrate by spin-coat method using organometallic solutions (metal alkoxides). Results of X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy indicate that the epitaxial films were grown pseudomorphically so as to align the [0 0 l] axis of the CaRu_1−xM_xO₃ films perpendicular to the (0 0 1) plane of the SrTiO₃ substrate. Ferromagnetism and metal-insulator transition are induced by the substitution of transition metal ions. The occurrence of ferromagnetism was explained qualitatively assuming a TiRu₆ cluster model for CaRu_1−xTi_xO₃ film and a mixed valence model for CaRu_1−xMn_xO₃ film. Ferromagnetism was also observed for layered CaRuO₃/CaMnO₃ film and CaRuO₃/CaMnO₃/CaRuO₃/CaMnO₃ multilayer film and the magnetism was explained by an interfacial exchange interaction model with magnetic Mn³⁺, Mn⁴⁺, and Ru⁵⁺ ions.     

Temperature dependence of magnetic anisotropy in nanoparticles of CoxFe(3−x)O4

In this paper we present a study of the magnetic anisotropy constant of nanocrystalline magnetic particles of Co_xFe_(3−x)O₄, with x ranging from 0.05 to 1.6, synthesized by a combustion reaction. The magnetic anisotropy constants were obtained by fitting the high-field part of the major hysteresis loops with the law of approach equation down to temperatures of 4 K and up to fields of 60 kOe. The anisotropy constant depends strongly on both temperature and cobalt content x, exhibiting a nonmonotic dome-shaped dependence on x with a maximum at x=1.0. We found that fits at lower temperatures, i.e., 4 and 72 K, give values of K₁ that are approximately one order of magnitude higher than those at higher temperatures, i.e., 272 and 340 K. For example, K₁ for specimens with x=0.8 and 1.0 are 4.21×10⁷ and 4.22×10⁷ ergs/cm³ at 4 K, and 7.64×10⁶ and 7.51×10⁶ ergs/cm³ at 340 K, respectively. Thus, our determination of temperature-dependence of the anisotropy constant represents an improvement over existing works.     

Magnetic properties of half-metallic semi Heusler Co1−xCuxMnSb compounds

A study of the half-metallic character of the semi Heusler alloys Co_1−xCu_xMnSb (0?x?0.9) is presented. We investigated the saturation magnetization M_S at temperatures from 5 K to room temperature and the temperature dependence of the DC magnetic susceptibility χ above Curie temperature T_C. The magnetic moments at 5 K, for most compositions are very close to the quantized value of 4 μ_B for Mn³⁺ ion, the compound with 90% Co substituted by Cu is still ferromagnetic with M_S (5 K)=3.78 μ_B/f.u. These results emphasize the role of Co atoms in maintaining the ferromagnetic order in the material. The Curie temperature is decreased from 476 K to about 300 K as the Cu content increases from 0% to 90%. Above T_C, the χ⁻¹ vs T curves follow very well the Curie–Weiss law. The effective moment μ_eff and paramagnetic Curie temperature θ are derived. A comparison between the values of M_S at 5 K and μ_eff shows a transition from localized to itinerant spin system in these compounds.     

Luminescent properties of stabled hexagonal phase Sr1−xBaxAl2O4:Eu (x=0.37-0.70)

Stabled hexagonal phase Sr_1−xBa_xAl₂O₄:Eu²⁺ (x=0.37-0.70) was prepared by solid-state method. Result revealed that the structure behavior of the SrAl₂O₄:Eu²⁺ calcined at 1350 °C in a reducing atmosphere for 5 h strongly depended on the Ba²⁺ concentration. With increasing Ba²⁺ concentration, a characteristic hexagonal phase can be observed. When 37-70% of the strontium is replaced by barium, the structure of the prepared sample is pure hexagonal. Photoluminescence and excitation spectra of the samples with different x and doped with 2% Eu²⁺ were investigated. Changes in the emission spectra were observed in the two different phases. The green emission at 505 nm from Eu²⁺ was found to be quite strong in the hexagonal phase. The intensity and peak position of the green luminescence from Eu²⁺ changed with increasing content of Ba²⁺. The strongest green emission was obtained from Sr_0.61Ba_0.37Al₂O₄:Eu²⁺. The decay characteristics of Sr_1−xBa_xAl₂O₄:Eu²⁺ (x=0.37-0.70) showed that the life times also varied with the value of x. Furthermore, the emission colors and decay times varying with x could be ascribed to the variation of crystal lattice.     

Magnetic properties of the Ce2Fe17−xMnx helical magnets up to high magnetic fields

Magnetic properties of the Ce₂Fe_17−xMn_x, x=0–2, alloys in magnetic fields up to 40 T are reported. The compounds with x=0.5–1 are helical antiferromagnets and those with 1<x?2 are helical ferromagnets or helical antiferromagnets at low and high T, respectively. Mn ions in the system carry average magnetic moment of 3.0±0.2 μ_B that couple antiparallelly to the Fe moments. Easy-plane magnetic anisotropy in the Ce₂Fe_17−xMn_x compounds weakens upon substitution of Mn for Fe. The absolute value of the first anisotropy constant in the Ce₂Fe_17−xMn_x helical ferromagnets decreases slower with increasing temperature than that calculated from the third power of the spontaneous magnetization. Noticeable magnetic hysteresis in the Ce₂Fe_17−xMn_x, x=0.5–2, helical magnets over the whole range of magnetic fields reflects mainly irreversible deformation of the helical magnetic structure during the magnetization of the compounds. A contribution from short-range order (SRO) magnetic clusters to the magnetic hysteresis of the helical magnets has been also estimated.     

DC and AC conductivities of (As2S3)100−x(AsSe0.5Te0.5I)x chalcogenide glasses

The DC and AC conductivities of samples from the system (As₂S₃)_100−x(AsSe_0.5Te_0.5I)_x, where x=0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 50, 70 and 90 mol%, were measured as a function of temperature. Besides, the AC conductivities of the samples with x=10 and 30 were measured as a function of frequency from room temperature to the glass transition temperature. The DC conductivity dependence on temperature is of the Arrhenius type, whereas the value of the pre-exponential factor suggests the electrical conduction by localized states in the band tails and by localized states near the Fermi level. The small values of the conduction activation energy (10⁻²-10⁻¹ eV) obtained at higher frequencies suggest that the conduction in these materials is due to hopping of charge carriers between close defect states near the Fermi level.     

B and Pt NMR study of the superconductors Li2(Pd1−xPtx)3B without inversion symmetry

We report the ¹¹B and ¹⁹⁵Pt NMR measurements in non-centrosymmetric superconductors Li₂(Pd_1−xPt_x)₃B (x = 0.0, 0.2, 0.5, 1.0). From the measurements of spin–lattice relaxation time (T₁), we found that there was a coherence peak (CP) just below superconducting transition temperature (T_c) for x = 0–0.5 but no CP in x = 1. We demonstrated that the system for x = 0–0.5 were BCS superconductors but there existed line node in the superconducting gap for x = 1.0. The ¹⁹⁵Pt Knight Shift in x = 0.2 decreased below T_c, indicating spin-singlet state. The results showed that BCS superconducting state evolves into an exotic state with line-nodes in the gap function when x is increased, as the spin–orbit coupling is enhanced.     

Influence of vacancies on the electrical properties of the ZnCr2−xNixSe4 spinels

The effect of vacancies on the electronic transport in the ZnCr_2−xNi_xSe₄ paramagnetic single crystals is considered. For this purpose, the structure refinements, the high temperature electrical conductivity and the thermoelectric power measurements as well as the calculations of the vacancy model parameters were used. The electrical measurements have been done in the temperature range from 290 to 520 K for single crystals with x=0.001, 0.05, and 0.065. The above investigations provide evidence for polaron conduction in defective spinel materials. In particular: (1) at high temperatures a linear dependence between thermopower S and the electrical resistivity (ln ρ), a characteristic of small polarons, was observed, (2) an origin of small polarons in this case could be associated with a crystalline distortion, which is characterized by larger values of the anion parameter than u=0.375, which describes an ideal spinel structure, and (3) a large defectiveness, which is identified by the large value of the vacancy parameter of about β=11.5%. These effects are explained in terms of a polaron mechanism of the electrical conductivity including structural defects.     

Magnetic anisotropy of Tb1−xGdxMn6Sn6 compounds

Magnetization curves of Tb_1−xGd_xMn₆Sn₆ compounds (0?x?1) have been measured for aligned powder samples in the temperature range 4.2–300 K in pulsed magnetic fields up to 30 T. Temperature and concentration dependences of the magnetocrystalline anisotropy constants K₁ and K₂ and concentration dependence of the temperature of spontaneous spin-reorientation transition have been determined. Using these data, we estimated the contribution of the manganese and terbium atoms to the magnetic anisotropy of Tb_1−xGd_xMn₆Sn₆ and analyzed the origin of the appearance of field-induced first-order magnetic phase transition in these compounds.     

Structural and magnetic properties of SmCo7−xMox alloys

Phase structure and magnetic properties of the as-cast and as-milled/annealed SmCo_7−xMo_x (x=0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4) alloys have been systematically studied. It is found that all the as-cast series alloys are composed of the CaCu₅-type and Th₂Zn₁₇-type phases. Saturation magnetization of the samples decreases with the Mo content increasing. Intrinsic coercivities (_iH_c) of no more than 0.06 T are observed in these as-cast samples, due to their rather coarse grain microstructures with an average grain size of 50 μm. The as-milled/annealed SmCo_7−xMo_x powders crystallize in the disordered TbCu₇-type (1:7) structure with very fine nanograins, and a minor Co₃Mo phase appears in the samples with x=0.1-0.4. High _iH_c (?0.95 T) are achieved in these samples, with a maximum of 1.26 T located at x=0.2, which can be primarily attributed to strong pinning of the domain wall motion at the nanograin boundaries. The temperature coefficient (β) of the _iH_c is about −0.22%/°C in the temperature range of 25-400 °C for the as-milled/annealed samples.     

High temperature magnetic ordering in La2RuO5

Magnetic susceptibility, heat capacity and electrical resistivity measurements have been carried out on a new ruthenate, La₂RuO₅ (monoclinic, space group P2₁/c) which reveal that this compound is a magnetic semiconductor with a high magnetic ordering temperature of 170 K. The entropy associated with the magnetic transition is 8.3 J/mol K close to that expected for the low spin (S=1) state of Ru⁴⁺ ions. The low temperatures specific heat coefficient γ is found to be nearly zero consistent with the semiconducting nature of the compound. The magnetic ordering temperature of La₂RuO₅ is comparable to the highest known Curie temperature of another ruthenate, namely, metallic SrRuO₃, and in both these compounds the nominal charge state of Ru is 4+.