Magnetic properties of CdSb doped with Ni

Magnetic properties of the group II–V semiconductor CdSb single crystals doped with Ni (2 at%) are investigated. Deviation of the zero-field-cooled susceptibility, χ_ZFC, from the field-cooled susceptibility is observed below 300 K, along with a broad maximum of χ_ZFC (T) at T_b in fields below the anisotropy field B_K∼4 kG. T_b(B) obeys the law [T_b(B)/T_b(0)]^1/2=1–B/B_K with T_b(0)∼100 K. The magnetization exhibits saturation above ∼20–30 kG, a weak temperature dependence and anisotropy of the saturation value M_s. The coercive field is much smaller then B_K and displays anisotropy inverted with respect to that of M_s. Such magnetic behavior is expected for spheroidal Ni-rich Ni_1−xSb_x nanoparticles with high aspect ratio, broad distribution of the sizes and with orientations of the major axis distributed around a preferred direction.     

Magnetic study of Mg0.95Mn0.05Fe2O4 ferrite nanoparticles

The magnetic properties of Mg_0.95Mn_0.05Fe₂O₄ ferrite samples with an average particle size of ∼6.0±0.6 nm have been studied using X-ray diffraction, Mössbauer spectroscopy, dc magnetization and frequency dependent real χ^′(T) and imaginary χ^″(T) parts of ac susceptibility measurements. A magnetic transition to an ordered state is observed at about 195 K from Mössbauer measurements. The zero-field-cooled (ZFC) and field-cooled (FC) magnetization have been recorded at low field and show the typical behavior of a small particle system. The ZFC curve displays a broad maximum at , a temperature which depends upon the distribution of particle volumes in the sample. The FC curve was nearly flat below , as compared with monotonically increasing characteristics of non-interacting superparamagnetic systems indicating the existence of strong interactions among the nanoparticles. A frequency-dependent peak observed in χ^′(T) is well described by Vogel-Fulcher law, yielding a relaxation time and an interaction parameter . Such values show the strong interactions and rule out the possibility of spin-glass (SG) features among the nanoparticle system. On the other hand fitting with the Néel-Brown model and the power law yields an unphysical large value of τ₀ (∼6×10⁻⁶⁹ and 1.2×10⁻²² s respectively).     

Formation mechanism of ferromagnetism in Si1−xMnx diluted magnetic semiconductors

Si_1−xMn_x diluted magnetic semiconductor (DMS) bulks were formed by using an implantation and annealing method. Energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and double-crystal rocking X-ray diffraction (DCRXD) measurements showed that the grown materials were Si_1−xMn_x crystalline bulks. Hall effect measurements showed that annealed Si_1−xMn_x bulks were p-type semiconductors. The magnetization curve as a function of the magnetic field clearly showed that the ferromagnetism in the annealed Si_1−xMn_x bulks originated from the interaction between interstitial and substitutional Mn⁺ ions, which was confirmed by the DCRXD measurements. The magnetization curve as a function of the temperature showed that the ferromagnetic transition temperature was approximately 75 K. The present results can help to improve understanding of the formation mechanism of ferromagnetism in Si_1−xMn_x DMS bulks.     

Low-temperature first-order reversal curves and interaction effects on assemblies of iron oxide nanoparticles

We present the synthesis and magnetic properties of high quality uncoated and gold-coated iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles. The structural properties of these nanoparticles are investigated by transmission electron microscopy, UV-visible spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. Experimental results and theoretical simulations indicate that the synthesized nanoparticles present a very good monodispersity, and well defined size and shape. The coercive field of these particles is identified by low-temperature first-order reversal curves and the results used in order to fit zero-field-cooled magnetization processes with theoretical models. The identification of the parameters in this analysis suggests that the coating process hardly affects the morphology and the overall magnetic properties of the cores inside coated particles.     

New experimental evidence for origin of ferromagnetism ordering in Fe-doped SiC

Fe-doped 6H-SiC polycrystalline powders were synthesized by solid-state reaction of high-purity silicon, graphite and iron powder. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM) analysis showed the presence of little Fe₃Si as secondary phase. Temperature-dependent magnetization showed two typical ferromagnetic (FM) transition temperatures located at 438 and 837 K, respectively. These features provided convincing experimental evidence to demonstrate that the presence of Fe₃Si is not the nature origin of FM ordering in Fe-doped SiC. It also indicated that trace of Fe-doping in SiC will induce a high-temperature FM arrangement.     

Room temperature ferromagnetism in Zn-Mn-O

Zn-Mn-O semiconductor crystallites with nominal manganese concentration x=0.01, 0.04 and 0.10 were synthesized by a solid state reaction method using oxalate precursors. A sintering procedure was carried out in air at 500 and 900  ^°C. The samples were investigated by X-ray diffraction, magnetization measurements and electron paramagnetic resonance. X-ray diffraction spectra reveal that the dominant crystal phase in the Zn-Mn-O system corresponds to the wurtzite structure of ZnO. Room temperature ferromagnetism is observed in Zn-Mn-O samples with manganese concentrations x=0.01 and 0.04 sintered at low temperature (500  ^°C). Saturation magnetization in the x=0.01 sample is found to be at . The ferromagnetic phase seems to be developed by Zn diffusion into Mn-oxide grains.     

Surface effects in maghemite nanoparticles

A consistent model is presented for the variation of saturation magnetization with particle size in maghemite nanoparticles, based on the existence of a magnetically disordered layer with a constant thickness of 1 nm. For particles smaller than 3 nm, layer thickness increases rapidly, and M_S is already zero for 2.5 nm particle size. Magnetization measurements have been performed on maghemite–polymer nanocomposites with low size dispersion and a regular distribution of particles in the matrix. A representative number of samples have been studied with a diameter size in the range from 1.5 to 15 nm and ±10% of size dispersion.     

X-ray absorption spectroscopic and magnetic characterization of cobalt-doped zinc oxide nanocrystals prepared by the molten-salt method

The local atomic arrangement and electronic structure of the Co-doped Zn_1−xCo_xO nanocrystal have been quantitatively examined along with its magnetic properties. According to our analysis using powder X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, and Zn K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), phase-pure wurzite-structured Zn_1−xCo_xO nanocrystals have been successfully synthesized via the molten-salt method. The Co K-edge XAS analysis clearly demonstrates that all the Co²⁺ ions are substituted for the tetrahedral Zn sites of the Wurzite structure with a coordination number of 3.9 and a bond distance of 1.97 Å, ruling out the presence of magnetic impurity phase and Co-metal cluster. Magnetization measurements reveal that the present Zn_1−xCo_xO sample does not show any ferromagnetic transition down to 2 K. In this regard, we can conclude that Co-doped zinc oxide is not ferromagnetic but the previously reported ferromagnetism in this phase would be an extrinsic property.     

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.     

Magnetic viscosity-coercivity relation for Fe1−xCox fine particles

The variation of the applied field results in a subsequent change of magnetization with time. There is a relationship between the coercivity (H_c), as the equilibrium characteristic of the system, and its magnetic stability (1/S), as a parameter characterizing the time dependence. 1/S as a function of H_c has been measured and studied for different Fe_1−xCo_x samples. We synthesized several samples with different values of x by applying various magnetic fields during the grains’ growth, and observed a linear relationship between 1/S and H_c.     

Effect of anions on the phase stability of γ-FeOOH nanoparticles and the magnetic properties of gamma-ferric oxide derived from lepidocrocite

The effect of anions such as Cl⁻, SO₄²⁻, and HPO₄²⁻ on the phase stability of FeOOH (α or γ) during precipitation is investigated. Oxidation of Fe(OH)₂·xH₂O from FeCl₂ solution with high Cl⁻ concentration ([Cl⁻]/[Fe]=R_Cl≥8) or (NH₄)₂Fe(SO₄)₂ (FAS) with [HPO₄²⁻]/[Fe]=R_P≥0.02 yields phase-pure γ-FeOOH. In the medium ranges of R_Cl and R_P, mixed phases of α-FeOOH and γ-FeOOH are obtained. Replacement of OH⁻ by Cl⁻ with the bridging cations or strongly bonded HPO₄²⁻ ions in the matrix of the intermediate phase (Fe_x²⁺Fe_y³⁺(OH)_2x+2y−nz·xH₂O(A)_zⁿ⁻, where A is anions such as Cl⁻, SO₄²⁻, HPO₄²⁻, etc.), promoted the lower density γ-FeOOH. However, the particles are less developed and have poor crystallinity as evidenced from transmission electron microscope and thermogravimetry-differential thermal analysis of the precipitates. Whereas, monophasic, uniformly sized, nano-lath shaped particles with high aspect ratio >10 are obtained when morphology-controlling cation additives such as Pt⁴⁺, Pd²⁺ or Rh³⁺ are present in FeCl₂ (R_Cl≥8) solution. Preferential adsorption of additives on (0k0) and (h00) planes limits the growth in the perpendicular directions leading to high aspect ratios. The effect of these additives are suppressed by the phosphate ion, a strong complexing ligand, giving rise to fibrous aggregate with the length of individual particles as small as 10-30 nm. While most of the Cl⁻ ion is removed from the final precipitates on washing, phosphate remained as HPO₄²⁻ as evidenced from IR absorption spectra. Maghemite obtained by dehydroxylating γ-FeOOH contains randomly distributed micropores bringing in the relaxation effects of spins on the surface atoms as deciphered from Mössbauer spectroscopy. This leads to the low σ_s (44-48 emu/g) and H_c (120-130 Oe) for γ-Fe₂O_3−δ particles. Whereas nearly pore-free single crystalline particles obtained by reduction followed by reoxidation has high value of σ_s (73 emu/g) and H_c (320 Oe), which decreases to 30 emu/g and 75 Oe, respectively, for nanoparticles obtained from phosphate stabilized lepidocrocite. The mobility of iron ions and counter mobility of vacancies during the topotactic transformation of γ-FeOOH to magnetite to γ-Fe₂O_3−δ renders the particles pore-free.     

Magnetic anisotropy-induced spin-reorientation in spinel FeCr2S4

In this paper, the low-field magnetic behavior of polycrystalline FeCr₂S₄ was investigated by thermal circling the sample from 5 to 200 K at a constant magnetic field. We show that, upon cooling the sample at 50 Oe to a temperature below the Curie temperature then warming back, the magnetization displays irreversibility between cooling and warming sequence. The irreversible behavior was suppressed gradually with increasing magnetic field. By considering spin-reorientation due to the increase of magnetic anisotropy upon cooling, the irreversible behavior has been explained qualitatively.     

Magnetic properties of nanostructured MnZn ferrite

Mn_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄ nanoparticles (10-30 nm) have been prepared via mechanochemical processing, using a mixture of two single-phase ferrites, MnFe₂O₄ and ZnFe₂O₄. SQUID measurements (field-cooled magnetization curves and hysteresis loops) were performed to follow the mechanically induced evolution of the MnFe₂O₄/ZnFe₂O₄ mixture submitted to the high-energy milling process. The resulting single MnZn nanoferrite phase was characterized by SQUID (M-H curve), Faraday balance (M-T curve) and transmission electron microscopy. The magnetic characteristics of the mechanosynthesized material were compared with those of bulk Mn_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄. It was found that the saturation magnetization of nanostructured Mn_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄ (87.2 emu/g) is lower than that of the bulk Mn_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄, but, the Néel temperature of the sample (583 K) is higher than that of the bulk Mn_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄.     

The structure and magnetic properties of Zn1−xNixFe2O4 ferrite nanoparticles prepared by sol–gel auto-combustion

Zn_1−xNi_xFe₂O₄ ferrite nanoparticles were prepared by sol–gel auto-combustion and then annealed at 700 °C for 4 h. The results of differential thermal analysis indicate that the thermal decomposition temperature is about 210 °C and Ni–Zn ferrite nanoparticles could be synthesized in the self-propagating combustion process. The microstructure and magnetic properties were investigated by means of X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, and Vibrating sample magnetometer. It is observed that all the spherical nanoparticles with an average grain size of about 35 nm are of pure spinel cubic structure. The crystal lattice constant declines gradually with increasing x from 0.8435 nm (x=0.20) to 0.8352 nm (x=1.00). Different from the composition of Zn_0.5Ni_0.5Fe₂O₄ for the bulk, the maximum M_s is found in the composition of Zn_0.3Ni_0.7Fe₂O₄ for nanoparticles. The H_c of samples is much larger than the bulk ferrites and increases with the enlarging x. The results of Zn_0.3Ni_0.7Fe₂O₄ annealed at different temperatures indicate that the maximum M_s (83.2 emu/g) appears in the sample annealed at 900 °C. The H_c of Zn_0.3Ni_0.7Fe₂O₄ firstly increases slightly as the grain size increases, and presents a maximum value of 115 Oe when the grains grow up to about 30 nm, and then declines rapidly with the grains further growing. The critical diameter (under the critical diameter, the grain is of single domain) of Zn_0.3Ni_0.7Fe₂O₄ nanoparticles is found to be about 30 nm.     

Magnetic properties of doped ZnO prepared by different synthetic routes

We have studied the magnetic properties of Zn_0.96M_0.04O (M=Mn, Fe, Co) compounds prepared using several routes. The low temperature ceramic synthesis gave multiphasic samples and show ferromagnetic behavior. Single phases can be obtained by heating at higher temperatures (∼900–1100 °C). The use of very low oxygen pressure also favours the preparation of single-phases. We were also successful in preparing single-phase samples at very low temperature (∼400 °C) by using a sol-gel method. All of the samples without noticeable secondary phases in the X-ray patterns behave as conventional paramagnets. This is true even for the samples with very low grain size. Samples exhibiting secondary phases reveal spontaneous magnetization even at room temperature in some cases. Our results strongly support that ferromagnetism at room temperature is always due to the presence of secondary phases and not to the doping of ZnO.     

Magnetic and structural study of Cu-doped TiO2 thin films

Transparent pure and Cu-doped (2.5, 5 and 10 at.%) anatase TiO₂ thin films were grown by pulsed laser deposition technique on LaAlO₃ substrates. The samples were structurally characterized by X-ray absorption spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. The magnetic properties were measured using a SQUID. All films have a FM-like behaviour. In the case of the Cu-doped samples, the magnetic cycles are almost independent of the Cu concentration. Cu atoms are forming CuO and/or substituting Ti in TiO₂. The thermal treatment in air promotes the CuO segregation. Since CuO is antiferromagnetic, the magnetic signals present in the films could be assigned to Cu substitutionally replacing cations in TiO₂.     

Effect of SnO2 coating on the magnetic properties of nanocrystalline CuFe2O4

Nanocrystalline CuFe₂O₄ and CuFe₂O₄/xSnO₂ nanocomposites (x=0, 1, 5 wt%) have been successfully synthesized by one-pot reaction of urea-nitrate combustion method. The transmission electron microscope study reveals that the particle size of the as synthesized CuFe₂O₄ and CuFe₂O₄/5 wt%SnO₂ are 10 and 20 nm, respectively. The SnO₂ coating on the nanocrystalline CuFe₂O₄ was confirmed from HRTEM studies. The resultant products were sintered at 1100 °C and characterized by XRD and SQUID for compound formation and magnetic studies, respectively. The X-ray diffraction pattern shows the well-defined sharp peak that confirms the phase pure compound formation of tetragonal CuFe₂O₄. The zero field cooled (ZFC) and field cooled (FC) magnetization was performed using SQUID magnetometer from 2 to 350 K and the magnetic hysteresis measurement was carried out to study the magnetic properties of nanocomposites.