Electrical resistivity and magnetic investigations of the orthorhombic Tb(Ni,Cu)2 system

The orthorhombic Tb(Ni, Cu)₂ and Gd(Ni, Cu)₂ systems (CeCu₂ structure) are closely similar according to electrical resistivity and magnetic results. The Tb(Ni_xCu_1?x)₂ system presents a transition from antiferromagnetism (AF) for x ? 8% Ni to ferromagnetism (FM) for x > 8% Ni. The CeCu₂ structure becomes unstable for x > 45% Ni. The AF samples show metamagnetism at 4.2 K with critical fields. Hysteresis, which occurs for all samples at 4.2 K, is attributed to intrinsic pinning due to large anisotropy where the mechanism for the AF range is analogous to intrinsic pinning of narrow domain walls in FM samples.Spin disorder resistivity measurements show a discontinuity at the AF-FM transition composition for both the Tb and Gd systems. This is due to a step up of the residual resistivity at 4.2 K as a result of AF ordering. This interpretation is confirmed by applying a magnetic field to destroy the AF ordering.     

Influence of Ni-concentration on the magnetic structure in Tb(Cu,Ni)2 system

A powder sample of orthorhombic Tb(Cu_0.7Ni_0.3)₂ has been studied by neutron diffraction at T = 4.2 K and above the Curie temperature. It is found that this compound is ferromagnetically ordered at 4.2 K. The magnetic moment of Tb in this compound is (9.2 ± 0.2)μ_B, with components (2.2 ± 0.2, 0, 8.9 ± 0.1)μ_B. The influence of the Ni-concentration on the magnetic structure is discussed in the whole Tb(Cu, Ni)₂ system.     

metamagnetic behavior of linear chain pyridine compounds: Co(Pyridine)2Cl2, Fe(Pyridine)2Cl2, Fe(Pyridine)2(NCS)2 and Ni(Pyridine)2Cl2

Magnetic phase transitions in the pyridine (pyr) compounds Co(pyr)₂Cl₂, Fe(pyr)₂Cl₂, Fe(pyr)₂(NCS)₂ and Ni(pyr)₂Cl₂ have been observed at applied magnetic fields of ～0.7, 0.7, 1.1 and 2.7 kG respectively. These low field phase transitions are observed in the Fe and Ni compounds at T = 4.2 K, and in the Co compound at T < 3K, and are consistent with metamagnetic behavior. Magnetic saturation is not achieved in any of these compounds for fields of 60 kG, reflecting high anisotropy.     

Electronic density of states in pseudobinary compounds Y(Fe-Co)2 and Y(Mn-Co)2

Densities of states in pseudobinary compounds are calculated by making use of the coherent potential approximation (CPA) [3] and the recursion method. Applications are made for Y(Fe-Co)₂, Y(Mn-Co)₂ and Zr(Fe-Co)₂. The total and local magnetic moments of Y(Fe-Co)₂ and Zr(Fe-Co)₂ are calculated and compared with the experimental results.     

HRTEM study of new superconducting lead cuprate (Pb, Cu) (Eu, Ce)2(Eu, Sr)2Cu2Oz

Crystallographic properties of a new lead cuprate superconducting material (Pb, Cu) (Eu, Ce)₂(Eu, Sr)₂Cu₂O_z are examined by electron probe micro-analysis and transmission electron microscopy. It is confirmed that although the sample examined here is not of single-phase, the composition of the superconducting phase is close to the nominal composition. From TEM observations, it follows that the crystal structure of the new phase is similar to that of Tl-1222 which consists of a fluorite type block, a rock salt type layer and a perovskite block.     

Structural, electronic and magnetic properties of Cr-doped (ZnTe)12 clusters

We have studied the energetics and magnetism in Cr-doped (ZnTe)₁₂ clusters by first principles density functional calculations. Total energy calculations suggest that it is energetically most favourable for Cr atoms to substitute at Zn sites. Both ferromagnetic and anti-ferromagnetic coupling between the Cr atoms exist depending on the Cr-Cr distance in the clusters. The magnetic exchange coupling between Cr atoms is short-ranged.     

Some magnetic properties of Mn(TCNQ)2

The EPR spectra of polycrystalline Mn(TCNQ)₂·3H₂O and Mn(TCNQ?d₄)₂ have been studied as a function of temperature from 1.5 K to 375 K. At very low temperatures the line width indicates an exchange interaction similar to that of other manganese salts. At 77 K and above the line is narrowed and shifted most likely through interaction with the electronic motion. The bulk susceptibility was measured at room temperature. The observed μ_eff=4.66 implies an antiferromagnetic coupling of the manganese ions.     

Synthesis, crystal structure, Cu doped EPR, thermal and voltammetric studies of [Ni(isonicotinamide)2(H2O)4]·(sac)2 single crystal

The single crystal of [Ni(ina)₂(H₂O)₄]·(sac)₂, (NINS), (ina is isonicotinamide and sac is saccharinate) complex has been prepared and its structural, spectroscopic and thermal properties have been determined. The title complex crystallizes in monoclinic system with space group P2₁/c, Z=2. The octahedral Ni(II) ion, which rides on a crystallographic centre of symmetry, is coordinated by two monodentate ina ligands through the ring nitrogen and four aqua ligands to form discrete [Ni(ina)₂(H₂O)₄] unit, which captures two saccharinate ions in up and down positions, each through intermolecular hydrogen bands. The magnetic environment of copper(II) doped NINS crystal has also been identified by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) technique. The g and A values of Cu²⁺ doped NINS single crystal were calculated from the EPR spectra recorded in three mutually perpendicular planes. These values indicated that the paramagnetic centre has a rhombic symmetry with the Cu²⁺ ion having distorted octahedral environment. The complex exhibits only metal centred electroactivity in the potential range of −2.00, 1.25 V versus Ag/AgCl reference electrode.     

Electronic structure of (Nd, Ce)2(Ba, Nd)2Cu3Oy

The dependence of T_c on oxygen content was determined for (Nd_0.67Ce_0.33)₂(Ba_0.67Nd_0.33)₂Cu_3.01O_y. It was found that superconduction appears in a range of y=9.10−9.16 and that T_c is enhanced remarkably by the increase of oxygen content. In an oxygen content range where superconduction appeared, the Ce valence was nearly +4 and the Cu valence changed from 2.31 to 2.33. The conductivity was measured in a wide temperature range between T_c and 1200 K as a function of oxygen partial pressure. The high-temperature conductivity increased with increasing oxygen content. It was found that both carrier concentration and mobility are increased with oxygen content. The conduction at low temperatures was semiconductor-like, and increased with increasing oxygen content, where the energy gap E_A-E_V between acceptor level and top of filled band approached zero.     

Linear-chain antiferromagnetism in Ni(N2H5)2(SO4)2

The compound dihydrazinium bis(sulfato) niccolate(II), Ni(N₂H₅)₂(SO₄)₂, containing sulfato-bridged chains of Ni(II) ions, can be described as an antiferromagnetic Heisenberg linear-chain system. A reasonable agreement of susceptibility measurements in the temperature region 2–80K, with a theory developed by Weng for antiferromagnetic Heisenberg linear chains with spin S=1, is obtained for a value of the intra-chain interaction $\text{J}\text{k}\text{=?3.35K}$. Preliminary results of specific heat measurements, on the other hand, do not fit quite well using this model. The origin of this discrepancy is suggested to be a zero-field splitting of the single ion.     

Synthesis and magnetic properties of Pr(Fe 1-xCo x) 2 and Pr 1-yTb y(Fe 0.4Co 0.6) 2 alloys

Measurement of X-ray diffraction, magnetization and magnetostriction was made on the Pr(Fe_1-xCo_x)₂ (x=0.4, 0.5 and 0.6) and Pr_1-yTb_y(Fe_0.4Co_0.6)₂ (y=0, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3) alloy series. It was found that a cubic phase with the MgCu₂ structure can be obtained in the Pr(Fe_1-xCo_x)₂ series only at x=0.6. The Pr_1-yTb_y(Fe_0.4Co_0.6)₂ system has the cubic MgCu₂ structure over the studied range for y. The lattice constant and magnetization decrease and the Curie temperature increases with increasing y. At 7 K, Pr_1-yTb_y(Fe_0.4Co_0.6)₂ samples are found to have huge intrinsic coercivities, which are associated with narrow domain walls. It is also found from X-ray measurement that in Pr_1-yTb_y(Fe_0.4Co_0.6)₂ the spontaneous magnetostriction ₁₁₁ increases due to Tb substitution, while the saturation magnetostriction _s is much lower than ₁₁₁. This can be attributed to the large value of ₁₀₀ with an opposite sign to ₁₁₁, which may be caused by the filling of the d band due to Co substitution. PACS 75.80.-g; 61.10.-i; 75.60.-d     

Thermoelectric power of TTF[Ni(dmit)2]2

The 1D organic salt TTF[Ni(dmit)₂]₂ becomes superconductor with T_c=1.6 K under an applied hydrostatic pressure of 7 kbar. Structural determinations in this system lead us to suspect that superconductivity (SC) coexists with a charge density wave (CDW) instability at low pressure. In order to better understand how SC emerge from a CDW and to revisit the pressure–temperature phase diagram of the TTF[Ni(dmit)₂]₂ we performed transport and thermoelectric power measurements under pressure.     

Electrical transport and magnetic properties of Nd2(WO4)3

Measurements of the molar magnetic susceptibility (X_m) of a powdered sample of Nd₂(WO₄)₃ in the temperature range 300–900 K, and the electrical conductivity (σ) and dielectric constant (?$\text{)}\text{?}$ of pressed pellets of the compound in the temperature range 4.2–1180 K are reported. X_m obeys the Curie-Weiss law with a Curie constant C= 3.13 K/mole, a paramagnetic Curie temperature θ= ?60 K and a moment of Bohr magnetons, p= 3.49 for the Nd³⁺ ion. The electrical conductivity data can be explained in terms of the usual band model and impurity levels. Both the σ and ?$\text{\$}\text{?}$data indicate some sort of phase transition round 1025 K. The conductivity follows Mott's law $\text{σ = A exp (?B/T}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>4</mtext>}}\text{)}$ in the temperature range $\text{200 < T < 3000}\text{K with}\text{B = 45.00 (}\text{K}\text{)}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>4</mtext>}}\text{and}\text{A = 1.38 × 10}{}^{\mathrm{?5}}\text{Ω}{}^{\mathrm{?1}}\text{cm}{}^{\mathrm{?1}}$. The dielectric constant increases slowly up to 600 K, as is usual for ionic solids. The increase becomes much faster above 600 K, which is attributed to space-charge polarization of thermally generated charge carriers.     

Synthesis,structure and preliminary results on electrical and magnetic properties of (Perylene)2 [Pt(mnt)2]

In this paper we report the preparation, crystal structure and some physical properties of the conducting molecular (Perylene)₂ [Pt(S₄C₄(CN)₄)].The crystal structure consists of segregated stacks of perylene and Pt S₄C₄ (CN)₄ units, with a spacing of 3.3 Å between the carbon atoms in the perylenes. The temperature dependence of the electrical conductivity is metallic with a maximum at approximately 15 K. At this temperature a sharp transition to an insulating state occurs. Magnetic suceptibility measurements confirm the existence of a transition in this temperature range.     

Crystallographic and magnetic properties of (Nd,Dy)3Fe27.5(Ti,Mo)1.5 compounds

A systematic study of the formation, structure and magnetic properties of (Nd,Dy)₃Fe_27.5(Ti,Mo)_1.5 compounds has been performed. Rietveld analyses of the X-ray patterns of the samples indicate that the concentrations of Ti and Mo affect the formation and structural properties slightly, whereas different rare-earth (Nd and Dy) contents influence them significantly. It is found that high Dy contents make it difficult to form the 3:29-type structures. The Curie temperatures of Nd_2.1Dy_0.9Fe_27.5Ti_1.5−xMo_x decrease monotonically as more Ti was replaced by Mo but their saturation magnetizations remain almost unchanged; in contrast, for Nd_3−yDy_yFe_27.5TiMo_0.5, their saturation magnetizations decrease monotonically with increasing Dy contents while their Curie temperatures are constant.     

Two potassium rare-earth polyphosphates KLn(PO3)4 (Ln=Ce, Eu): Structural, optical, and electronic properties

Two potassium rare-earth polyphosphate single-crystals KLn(PO₃)₄ (Ln=Ce (1), Eu (2)) have been synthesized by the high-temperature solution reaction and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The two isostructural compounds crystallize in the monoclinic system with space group P2₁, and all cell parameters shrink with the decrease of Ln³⁺ ion radius. The main structural feature is (PO₃)₄⁴⁻ wavy chains and infinite tunnels delimited by LnO₈ and KO₈ polyhedra. The energy band structures, density of states (DOS), and optical response functions for 1 have been calculated with the density functional theory (DFT) method, and the dielectric functions and refractive indices have been discussed. The measurements of the absorption and emission spectra show that 1 exhibits the ultraviolet emissions, and 2 displays the characteristic yellow-red emissions of Eu³⁺.     

Structural and magnetic properties of RET2Sn2 compounds (RE=La,Ce, Sm; T=Ni,Cu)

The following compounds have been synthesized: LaCu₂Sn₂, CeCu₂Sn₂, SmCu₂Sn₂ and SmNi₂Sn₂. By means of X-ray diffraction their structure was determined to be primitive tetragonal of CaBe₂Ge₂-type (space group P4/nmm) and the lattice parameters were obtained.¹¹⁹Sn Mössbauer measurements were performed in a temperature range between 4.2 K and 300 K. The temperature dependence of the Lamb-Mössbauer factor reveals considerable softening of lattice vibration modes below 160 K. Only SmCu₂Sn₂ orders magnetically above 4.2 K.     

Phase transitions in [Ni(NH3)6](NO3)2

Electric permittivity ^* = ′ − i″ of nickel-hexammino nitrate (NHN) has been measured within the range of temperature from 9 to 300 K at a frequency of 8.8 GHz (X-band). It has been found that the phase transitions at T_k1 = 247 K and T_k2 = 90 K are discontinuous structural transitions between centrosymmetric phases, whereas the transition at T_c = 63 K is a continuous phase transition (glass?).     

Magnetic properties and EPR spectra of [Cu(L-arginine)2](NO3)2·3H2O

Magnetic and EPR data have been collected for complex [Cu(L-Arg)₂](NO₃)₂·3H₂O (Arg=arginine). Magnetic susceptibility χ in the temperature range 2-160 K, and a magnetization isotherm at T=2.29(1) K with magnetic fields between 0 and 9 T were measured. The observed variation of χT with T indicates predominant antiferromagnetic interactions between Cu(II) ions coupled in 1D chains along the b axis. Fitting a molecular field model to the susceptibility data allows to evaluate g=2.10(1) for the average g-factor and J=−0.42(6) cm⁻¹ for the nearest neighbor exchange coupling (defined as H_ex=-∑J_ijS_i·S_j). This coupling is assigned to syn-anti equatorial-apical carboxylate bridges connecting Cu(II) ion neighbors at 5.682 Å, with a total bond length of 6.989 Å and is consistent with the magnetization isotherm results. It is discussed and compared with couplings observed in other compounds with similar exchange bridges. EPR spectra at 9.77 were obtained in powder samples and at 9.77 and at 34.1 GHz in the three orthogonal planes of single crystals. At both microwave frequencies, and for all magnetic field orientations a single signal arising from the collapse due to exchange interaction of resonances corresponding to two rotated Cu(II) sites is observed. From the EPR results the molecular g-tensors corresponding to the two copper sites in the unit cell were evaluated, allowing an estimated lower limit |J |>0.1 cm⁻¹ for the exchange interaction between Cu(II) neighbors, consistent with the magnetic measurements. The observed angular variation of the line width is attributed to dipolar coupling between Cu(II) ions in the lattice.     

Magnetic susceptibility studies of (CH2)3(NH3)2FeCl2Br2 and (CH2)6(NH3)2FeCl2Br2

The magnetic susceptibility of the layered compounds (CH₂)₃(NH₃)₂FeCl₂Br₂ and (CH₂)₆(NH₃)₂FeCl₂Br₂ has been measured in the range 80 < T < 300 K. The results follow a Curie-Weiss behavior in the range 120 < T < 300 K but are field dependent for T < 120 K. The results are interpreted in terms of a two-dimensional antiferromagnetic interaction which is canted. A comparison with the corresponding pure chloride compounds is given.