Theoretical study of p-d hybridization in Co perovskite

The real-space recursion method and unrestricted Hartree-Fock approximation have been applied to calculate the density of states of various Co perovskite, CeCoO₃, SrCoO₃ and Sr_1−xCe_xCoO₃. We have studied the magnetically ordered states of these Co perovskites in an enlarged double cell, and find its various magnetic structures due to the occupancy of 3d band and its interaction with neighboring Co ions. In this study, we have studied the p-d hybridization of the three Co perovskites, we find t_2g electrons are localized and the flat e_g band is responsible for the itinerant behavior, and although the rare earth elements itself contribute little to the DOS at the Fermi energy, the DOS at Fermi energy and the magnetic moment changed consequently because of different valence of Co ions in these compounds and p-d hybridization effect is very important.     

Effects of B′-site transition metal on the properties of double perovskites Sr2FeMO6 (M=Mo, W): B′ 4d-5d system

The crystal structure, magnetic and magnetotransport properties of the variation of B′-site transition metal in Sr₂FeMO₆ (M=Mo, W) with double perovskites structure have been investigated systematically. Measurements of magnetization vs. temperature at H=5 T show that Sr₂FeMoO₆ is a ferromagnet and Sr₂FeWO₆ is an antiferromagnet with T_N∼35 K. Additionally, the large magnetoresistance ratio (MR) of ∼22% (H=3 T) at room temperature (RT) was observed in the Sr₂FeWO₆ compound. However, the Sr₂FeMoO₆ compound did not show any significant MR even at high fields and RT (MR∼1%; H=3 T and 300 K). The implications of these findings are supported by band structure calculations to explain the interaction between the 4d(Mo) and 5d(W) orbitals of transition metal ions and oxygen ions.     

Hole doping effects in (Sr2-xNax)FeMoO6 double perovskite

Hole-doped double perovskite compounds (Sr,Na)₂FeMoO₆ with the Na content of x=0,0.02,0.03,0.07 and 0.17 have been synthesized by sol–gel method. Effects of hole doping on the crystal structure and magnetic properties of Sr₂FeMoO₆ have been investigated by means of X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and magnetic measurements. The XRD pattern indicates that all the samples are of single phase and belong to the space group I4/m. Due to the smaller ionic radius of Na⁺ than that of Sr²⁺ ions, the lattice constants and unit cell volume of the compound decrease slightly with x. The degree of cation ordering in the Na-doped Sr₂FeMoO₆ compounds shows a non-monotonic variation with the doping level, increasing from x=0 to x=0.03 and decreasing slightly with further increase of the doping. In contrast to the composition dependence of the degree of ordering, the Curie temperature of the compound decreases at low doping level and increases at high doping level. The saturation magnetization of the compound increases with x for x<0.17. Similar to the electron-doped Sr₂FeMoO₆, provided that the doped hole enters selectively the spin-down band, the variation of the saturation magnetization can be explained in light of the ferrimagnetic model (FIM). PACS 61.72.Ww; 75.50.-y; 75.30.Cr; 75.50.Gg     

Inelastic magnetic X-ray scattering from highly correlated electron systems: La1.2Sr1.8Mn2O7, La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 and Fe3O4

Magnetic Compton profiles have been measured for the colossal magnetoresistance manganites La_1.2Sr_1.8Mn₂O₇ and La_0.7Sr_0.3MnO₃, and for magnetite Fe₃O₄, along various crystallographic directions, over a wide range of temperatures and magnetic fields. The experimental results are interpreted via first-principles computations for the double layer manganite, La_1.2Sr_1.8Mn₂O₇, and by using a simple model involving atomic d-orbitals and free electrons for the other two compounds. For all three materials a preference for the occupation of e_g orbitals is found, particularly, for orbitals of dx²−y² symmetry. An itinerant electron contribution is adduced at all temperatures in magnetite; such a contribution also appears in La_1.2Sr_1.8Mn₂O₇, but it is present only at low temperatures in La_0.7Sr_0.3MnO₃.     

2 S 1/2-states of Pb3+-ions: Correlations betweeng-values and hyperfine splitting constantsA in the EPR-spectra

The EPR-spectra of the² S _1/2-state of Pb³⁺-ions in different host lattices are characterized by a pronounced hyperfine splitting constantA, a smallg-shift from the free spin valueg _e and an appreciable amount of superhyperfine interaction. The unpaired 6s-electron of the Pb³⁺-ion is predominantly found in molecular orbitals built from the central 6s-function and orbitals of the sorrounding ligand ions. This assumption leads to correct estimates of theg-shift (Watanabe theory) and the reduction ofA due to covalent bonding effects. Theg- andA-values are shown to be correlated.     

Thermal diffusivity of double perovskite Sr2MMoO6 (M=Fe, Mn and Co) and La doping effects studied by mirage effect

The thermal diffusivity has been investigated in double perovskite Sr₂MMoO₆ (M=Fe, Mn and Co) by means of the mirage effect. We have found that the thermal diffusivity of metallic Sr₂FeMoO₆ is 0.39 cm²/s, which is larger than that (0.33 cm²/s) of insulating Sr₂MnMoO₆ and Sr₂CoMoO₆. We further investigate the substitution effects of the La³⁺ ions for the Sr²⁺ ions in Sr₂FeMoO₆ and Sr₂MnMoO₆, and have found that the thermal diffusivities of both samples significantly increase with the La concentration. Such an enhancement of the thermal diffusivities has been ascribed to occupation of the extra itinerant electrons on the conduction Mo4d band.     

Synthesis,magnetic and electrical transport properties of magnetoresistance material Sr2FeMoO6 by microwave sintering

Magnetoresistance material Sr₂FeMoO₆ with double perovskite structure was synthesized by microwave sintering method using SrCO₃, Fe₂O₃ and MoO₃ as raw materials, with MnO₂ for microwave absorber. The phase structure, magnetic and electrical transport properties were investigated by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and vibrating-sample magnetometer. XRD analysis shows that the as-synthesized sample is Sr₂FeMoO₆ with tetragonal crystal structure and I4/mmm space group. The unit cell parameters are a=0.5587 nm, c=0.7894 nm, volume=0.2464 nm³. The calculated grain size of the sample is 31.62 nm, which is obtained by the Scherrer formula using the diffraction data. Magnetism testing results show that the sample Sr₂FeMoO₆ is ferromagnetic with the magnetic transition temperature of about 380 K. Under 1.0 T magnetic field, the saturation and spontaneous magnetization of Sr₂FeMoO₆ is 1.25 μ_B/f.u. and 1.00 μ_B/f.u. at room temperature. The magnetoresistance ratio of the sample is 28%. Electrical transport properties testing results indicate that the sample exhibits typical semiconductor behavior. The conductive mechanism of Sr₂FeMoO₆ is highly dependent on temperature: within the temperature range of 100–300 K, the mechanism is attributed to the small polaron variable-range hopping model; while it is ascribed to the adiabatic small polaron model within the temperature range of 80–100 K.     

Influence of V substitution for Fe on the transport and magnetic properties of Sr2FeMoO6

We have investigated the crystal structure, magnetization and magnetoresistance of the double perovskite compounds Sr₂(Fe_1−xV_x)MoO₆ (0≤x≤0.1). The lattice constants and the cation ordering decrease monotonously with the V content. The Curie temperature, saturation magnetization and low field magnetoresistance of the compounds decrease with increasing x due to the reduced degree of ordering. The resistivity of Sr₂FeMoO₆ and lightly doped samples shows semiconductive behavior, while the samples with higher doping levels exhibit a semiconductor-metal transition around 80 K.     

Orbital-decomposed electronic and magnetic properties of the double perovskite Sr2FeReO6

The detailed orbital-decomposed electronic structures and magnetic properties of the double perovskite Sr₂FeReO₆ have been studied using the first-principles projector augmented wave (PAW) potential within the generalized gradient approximation (GGA). Both occupied and unoccupied s and three p states of Fe³⁺ ion are located far away from the Fermi level, while all up-spin states and most down-spin states are completely filled for the s and three p states of Re⁵⁺ ion. The octahedral crystal field of the oxygen atoms around transition-metal (TM) sites splits the five-fold degenerate d states of the free TM atoms into triply degenerate t_2g states with smaller bonding-antibonding splitting and doubly degenerate e_g states with larger bonding-antibonding splitting. The Fe³⁺ and Re⁵⁺ ions are in the states (3d⁵, S=5/2) and (5d², S=1) with magnetic moments 3.70 and −0.86μ_B, respectively and thus antiferromagnetic coupling via oxygen between them. There are no direct interactions between two nearest Fe-Fe or Re-Re pairs, whereas along each Fe-O-Re-O-Fe or Re-O-Fe-O-Re chains, the hybridizations between Fe 3d and 4s, O 2s and 2p, as well as Re 5p, 5d and 6s orbitals are fairly significant.     

Ba0.5Sr0.5TiO3电子结构和光学性质的第一性原理研究

利用第一性原理研究了Ba_0.5Sr_0.5TiO₃的能带结构和光学性质.结果表明,导带和价带都来源于钛原子3d轨道和氧原子2p轨道的杂化.导带主要由钛原子的3d轨道贡献,价带主要由氧原子的2p轨道贡献.吸收系数为10⁵ cm^-1量级,且吸收主要集中在低能区.折射率为n（0）=2.1,结果与实验符合. 关键词： 第一性原理 能带结构 光学性质     

Half-metallic ferromagnetic nature of the double perovskite Pb2FeMoO6 from first-principle calculations

The structural, electronic and magnetic properties of the double perovskite Pb₂FeMoO₆ have been studied by using the first-principle projector augmented wave (PAW) potential within the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) as well as taking into account the on-site Coulomb repulsive interaction (GGA+U). Similar to Sr₂FeMoO₆ and Pb₂FeReO₆, the optimized crystal structure of Pb₂FeMoO₆ is a body-centered tetragonal (BCT) with the lattice constants a=b=5.60 Å and c=7.94 Å. The two axial TM?O distances are slightly larger than the four equatorial TM?O distances, which shows that the Jahn–Teller structural distortion exists in FeO₆ and MoO₆ octahedra. The half-metallic ferromagnetic nature implies a potential application of this new compound in spintronics devices. The Fe³⁺ and Mo⁵⁺ ions are in the states (3d⁵, S=5/2) and (4d¹, S=1/2) with magnetic moments 3.87 and ?0.38μ_B respectively and thus there exists an antiferromagnetic coupling via oxygen between them.     

Enhancement of Curie temperature and room-temperature magnetoresistance in double perovskite (Sr1.6Ba0.4)FeMoO6

The effects of A-site average cation size 〈r_A〉 and anti-site defects on Curie temperature (T_C) and room-temperature magnetoresistance (MR) in (Sr_2−xBa_x)FeMoO₆ (x=0, 0.4 and 1.6) have been investigated. By Ba doping, not only the room-temperature MR but also the T_C have been enhanced. The larger MR in the Ba-doped samples compared with the prototype Sr₂FeMoO₆ is associated with the lower saturation field. The optimization of T_C and MR in (Sr_1.6Ba_0.4)FeMoO₆ other than in the reported (Sr_0.4Ba_1.6)FeMoO₆ can be understood according to the two competing effects: anti-site defects and chemical pressure.     

Hole concentration dependence of Mn eg orbital state in bilayer manganites studied by magnetic Compton profile measurement

Magnetic Compton profiles (MCP) have been measured in the [100], [110] and [001] directions on the single crystals of La_2−2xSr_1+2xMn₂O₇ (x=0.30, 0.35 and 0.42) at 10 K. The occupation numbers in t_2g and two e_g type orbitals (x²−y² and 3z²−r²) of Mn-3d state are evaluated from the line-shape analysis of MCP's in the [001] direction by using theoretical profiles derived from the ab initio calculations for (MnO₆)⁸⁻cluster. It has been found that the e_g state is dominated by the x²−y² type orbital at every hole concentration, x, and the 3z²−r² type orbital population decreases with increasing x. From the result, the connections of e_g orbital state with the electron correlation effect, exchange interactions, lattice distortion and electronic inhomogeneity are discussed.     

The electronic structures of the core and valence ion states of metal oxides

SCF-Xα SW MO calculations on metal core ion hole states and X-ray emission (XES) and X-ray photoelectron (XPS) transition states of the non- transition metal oxidic clusters MgO₆^10?, AlO₄^5? and SiO₄^4? show relative valence orbital energies to be virtually unaffected by the creation of valence orbital or metal core orbital holes. Accordingly, valence orbital energies derived from XPS and XES are directly comparable and may be correlated to generate empirical MO diagrams. In addition, charge relaxation about the metal core hole is small and valence orbital compositions are little changed in the core hole state. On the other hand, for the transition metal oxidic clusters FeO₆^10?, CrO₆^9? and TiO₆^8? relative valence orbital energies are sharply changed by a metal core orbital or crystal field orbital hole, the energy lowering of an orbital increasing with its degree of metal character. Consequently O 2p nonbonding → M 3d-O 2p antibonding (crystal field) energies are reduced, while M 3d bonding → O 2p nonbonding and M 3d-O 2p antibonding → M 4s,p-O 2p antibonding (conduction band) energies increase. Charge relaxation about the core hole is virtually complete in the transition metal oxides and substantial changes are observed in the composition of those valence orbitals with appreciable M 3d character. This change in composition is greater for e _g than for t_2g orbitals and increases as the separation of the e_g crystal field (CF) orbitals and the O 2p nonbonding orbital set decreases. Based on the hole state MO diagrams the higher energy XPS satellite in TiO₂ (at about 13 eV) is assigned to a valence → conduction band transition. The UV PES satellites at 8.2 eV in Cr₂O₃ and 9.3 eV in FeO are tentatively assigned to similar transitions to conduction band orbitals, although the closeness in energy of the crystal field and O 2p nonbonding orbitals in the valence orbital hole state prevents a definite assignment on energy criteria alone. However the calculations do clearly show that charge transfer transitions of the e_g bonding → e_g crystal field orbital type would generally occur at lower energy than is consistent with observed satellite structure.A core electron hole has little effect upon relative orbital energies and is only slightly neutralized by valence electron redistribution for MgO and SiO₂. For the transition metal oxides a core hole lowers the relative energies of M3d containing orbitals by large amounts, reducing O → M charge transfer and increasing M 3d crystal field → conduction band energies. Large and sometimes overcomplete neutralization of the core hole is observed, increasing from CrO₆^9? to FeO₆^10? to TiO₆^8?. as the O → M charge transfer energy declines.High energy XPS satellites in TiO₂ may be assigned to O 2p nonbonding → conduction band transitions while lower energy UV PES satellites in FeO and Cr₂O₃ arise from crystal field or O 2p nonbonding → conduction band excitations. Our “shake-up” assignment for FeO₆^10?, CrO₆^9? and TiO₆^8? are less than definitive because no procedure has yet been developed to calculate “shake-up” intensities resulting from transitions of the type described. However the results do allow a critical evaluation of earlier qualitative predictions of core and valence hole effects. First, we find that the comparison of hole or valence state ionic systems with equilibrium distance systems of higher nuclear and/or cation charge (e.g. the comparison of the FeO₆^10? Fe 2p core hole state to Co₃O₄) is dangerous. For example, larger MO distances in the ion states substantially reduce crystal field splittings. Second, core and CF orbital holes sharply reduce O → M charge transfer energies, giving 2e_g → 3e_g energy separations which are generally too small to match observed satellite energies. Third, highest occupied CF-conduction band energies are only about 4–5 eV in the ground states, but increase to about 7–11 eV in the core and valence hole states of the transition metal oxides studied. The energetic arguments presented thus support the idea of CF and/or O 2p nonbonding → conduction band excitations as assignments for “shake-up” satellites, at least in oxides of metals near the beginning of the transition series.     

Orbital degrees of freedom and electron correlation in optical absorption of metallic LaSrMnO

The optical absorption in ferromagnetic metal La_1-xSr_xMnO₃ is anomalous; it has a wide-range absorption up to about 1 eV even at zero temperature. Since 3d electrons in La_1-xSr_xMnO₃ partially fill doubly degenerate e_g orbitals, the orbital degrees of freedom are crucial to understand this metallic system. We argue that the interband transition within e_g orbitals is important in the optical absorption. The optical spectrum is modified also by the inter-orbital Coulomb interaction. We have examined perturbatively the effect of the Coulomb interaction on the spectrum. Available experiments are discussed by comparing with the present results. Received: 13 February 1998 / Accepted: 17 March 1998     

Manganites at low temperatures and light doping: band approach and percolation

A tight-band model is employed for thee _2g orbitals in manganites. It is shown that a large intra-atomic Hund couplingJ _H and the resulting double-exchange mechanism lead to antiferromagnetic ordering along one of the cubic axes, stabilized by the cooperative Jahn-Teller effect, which further decreases the band energy, of the electrons. As a result, LaMnO₃ is a band insulator built of 2D ferromagnetic layers. The critical concentration (x _c ?0.16) for the onset of ferromagnetic and metallic behavior at low temperatures in La_1?x Sr _x MnO₃ and the phase transition are treated in a percolation approach.     

Electronic structures and magnetoelectric properties of tetragonal BaFeO3: an ab initio density functional theory study

First-principles calculations have been performed to investigate the ground state electronic properties of BaFeO₃ (BFO). Local spin density approximation (LSDA) plus U (LSDA+U) treatment modified the metallic behaviour to insulated one with a band gap of 4.12eV. The spontaneous polarization was found to be 89.3\muC/cm² with Berry phase scheme in terms of the modern theory of polarization. Fe-3d e_g were split into two singlet states (d_z² and d _x²-y²}), and Fe-3d t_2g were split into one doublet states(d_xz and d_yz) and one singlet states(d_xy) after Fe and O displaced along the c axis. Meanwhile the occupation numbers of d_z², d_yz, d_xz and O_T p_z (on the top of Fe) were increased at the expense of those in xy plane. Our results showed that it was the sensitivity of hybridization to ferroelectric distortions, not just the total change of hybridization, that produced the possibility of ferroelectricity. Moreover, the increasing occupation numbers of O_T p_z and Fe d_z² favoured the 180^o coupling between Fe-3d e_g and Fe-3d t_2g, leading to ferromagnetic ordering, which has been confirmed by the increase of magnetic moment by 0.13μ_B per formula unit in the polarized direction. Hence, the magnetization can be altered by the reversal of external electric field.     

Properties of Sr2FeMoO6 thin films fabricated by the chemical solution deposition method

We fabricated the ordered Sr₂FeMoO₆ (SFMO) thin film with a double perovskite structure using the chemical solution deposition (CSD) method. The highly c-axis oriented SFMO thin film with a high degree of Fe/Mo ordering was successfully synthesized on an MgO (001) substrate by optimizing processing conditions. The precise preparation process control of the SFMO precursor solution leads to a typical magnetoresistance effect in a low magnetic field at room temperature.