Mössbauer spectroscopy analysis of Fe-doped YBaCo4O7+δ: Effects of oxygen intercalation

Mössbauer spectroscopy of layered YBaCo_3.96Fe_0.04O_7+δ (δ=0.02 and 0.80), where 1% cobalt is substituted with ⁵⁷Fe isotope, revealed no evidence of charge ordering at 4-293 K. The predominant state of iron cations was found trivalent, irrespective of their coordination and oxygen stoichiometry variations determined by thermogravimetric analysis. The extremely slow kinetics of isothermal oxidation at 598 K in air, and the changes of Fe³⁺ fractions in the alternating triangular and Kagomé layers in oxidized YBaCo_3.96Fe_0.04O_7.80, may suggest that oxygen intercalation is accompanied with a substantial structural reconstruction stagnated due to sluggish cation diffusion. Decreasing temperature below 75-80 K leads to gradual freezing of the iron magnetic moments in inverse correlation with the content of extra oxygen. The formation of metal-oxygen octahedra and resultant structural distortions extend the temperature range where the paramagnetic and frozen states co-exist, down to 45-50 K.     

Crystal structure, magnetic, and dielectric properties of Aurivillius-type Bi3Fe0.5Nb1.5O9

Bi₃Fe_0.5Nb_1.5O₉ was synthesized using conventional solid state techniques and its crystal structure was refined by the Rietveld method using neutron powder diffraction data. The oxide adopts an Aurivillius-type structure with non-centrosymmetric space group symmetry A2₁am (a=5.47016(9) Å, b=5.43492(9) Å, c=25.4232(4) Å), analogous to other Aurivillius compounds that exhibit ferroelectricity. The Fe and Nb cations are disordered on the same crystallographic site. The [(Fe,Nb)O₆] octahedra exhibit tilting and distortion to accommodate the bonding requirements of the Bi cations located in the perovskite double layers. Magnetic measurements indicate non-Curie-Weiss-type paramagnetic behavior from 300 to 6 K. Measurements of dielectric properties and electrical resistivity exhibited changes near 250-260 °C and are suggestive of a ferroelectric transition.     

Electrical conductivity and thermopower of Fe-phosphate compounds with the lazulite-type structure

Measurements of the electrical DC and AC conductivities were performed on three Fe-phosphate compounds in the temperature range ∼210 K?T?∼450 K. The Fe-phosphates are semiconducting with activation energy of DC conductivity σ_DC of E_A∼0.35-0.45 eV. For α-Fe₂PO₄O, the AC conductivity σ_AC in the low-temperature range is considerably enhanced relative to σ_DC. The frequency dependence of σ_AC can be described by an approximate power law. For the same compound, the thermopower Θ (Seebeck effect) was found to be positive in the range ∼330 K?T?∼700 K, i.e. seemingly p-type conduction occurs; at T>700 K, Θ appears to become negative. The results are described in terms of a small polaron hopping model between localized states with electron transfer of the type Fe²⁺→Fe³⁺ with Fe²⁺ as donors. In this model Θ can be described suggesting equal concentrations of Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺ to take part in conduction.     

A high temperature superionic phase of CsSn2F5

The compound CsSn₂F₅ has been investigated over the temperature range from ambient to 545 K using differential scanning calorimetry, impedance spectroscopy and neutron powder diffraction methods. A first-order phase transition is observed from DSC measurements at 510(2) K, to a phase possessing a high ionic conductivity (σ∼2.5×10⁻² Ω⁻¹ cm⁻¹ at 520 K). The crystal structure of the high temperature superionic phase (labelled α) has been determined to be tetragonal (space group I4/mmm, a=4.2606(10) Å, c=19.739(5) Å and Z=2) in which the cations form layers perpendicular to the [001] direction, with a stacking sequence CsSnSnCsSnSn… All the anions are located in two partially occupied sites in the gap between the Cs and Sn layers, whilst the space between the Sn cations is empty, due to the orientation of the lone-pair electrons associated with the Sn²⁺. The structure of α-CsSn₂F₅ is discussed in relation to two other layered F⁻ conducting superionic phases containing Sn²⁺ cations, α-RbSn₂F₅ and α-PbSnF₄ and, to facilitate this comparison, an improved structural characterisation of the former is also presented. The wider issue of the role of lone-pair cations such as Sn²⁺ in promoting dynamic disorder within an anion substructure is also briefly addressed.     

Lattice crossover and mixed valency in the LaCo1−xRhxO3 solid solution

The full LaCo_1−xRh_xO₃ solid solution was investigated utilizing structural, electrical transport, magnetic, and thermal conductivity characterization. Strong evidence for at least some conversion of Rh³⁺/Co³⁺ to Rh⁴⁺/Co²⁺ is found in both structural and electrical transport data. The crystal structure is that of a rhombohedrally distorted perovskite over the range 0.0≤x≤0.1. The common orthorhombic distortion of the perovskite structure is found over the range 0.2≤x≤1.0. A crossover of all three orthorhombic cell edges occurs at x=0.5 giving the appearance of a cubic structure, which actually remains orthorhombic. The octahedra in the orthorhombic structure must be distorted for x values less than 0.5, and the observed distortion suggests orbital ordering for Co²⁺. Electrical resistivity measurements as a function of temperature show semiconducting-like regions for all compositions. There is a steady increase in electrical resistivity as the Rh content increases. Large positive thermopower values are generally obtained above 475 K. With increasing Rh substitution there is a decrease in thermal conductivity, which slowly rises with increasing temperature due to increased electrical conductivity. The electronic part of the thermal conductivity is suppressed significantly upon Rh substitution. A thermoelectric figure-of-merit (ZT) of about 0.075 has been achieved for LaCo_0.5Rh_0.5O₃ at 775 K, and is expected to reach 0.15 at 1000 K.     

Structure and physical properties of rare-earth zinc antimonides REZn1-xSb2 (RE=La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd, Tb)

The ternary rare-earth zinc antimonides REZn_1-xSb₂ (RE=La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd, Tb) were prepared by heating at 1050 °C followed by annealing at 600 °C. For all members, single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies indicated that the Zn deficiency is essentially fixed, corresponding to the formula REZn_0.6Sb₂, with no appreciable homogeneity range. These compounds adopt the HfCuSi₂-type structure (Pearson symbol tP8, space group P4/nmm, Z=2). Single-crystal electrical resistivity measurements confirmed the occurrence of an abrupt resistivity decrease near 4 K for RE=Ce, and a less pronounced one for RE=La, Pr, and Gd. Except for the ferromagnetic Ce (T_c=2.5 K) and antiferromagnetic Tb (T_N=10 K) members, all remaining compounds exhibit no long-range magnetic ordering down to 2 K, instead showing temperature-independent (RE=La), van Vleck (RE=Sm), or Curie-Weiss paramagnetism (RE=Pr, Nd, Gd).     

Correlation between structure and magnetic properties of Cd-substituted La0.7(Ca0.3−xCdx)MnO3 CMR manganites

Structural, electrical and magnetic properties of Cd-doped La_0.7(Ca_0.3−xCd_x)MnO₃ (0?x?0.3) manganites are presented. All compositions were indexed in the orthorhombic (Pnma) space group, except the Cd_0.3 sample, indexed as a combination of trigonal and orthorhombic (Pnma) space groups. Substitution of Ca by Cd has a strong influence on the magnetic and magnetoresistive properties of these compounds, continuously decreasing both the magnetic moment and the Curie temperature (from 3.5 μ_B and 270 K for the x=0 composition to 1.59 μ_B and 90 K for the fully doped x=0.3 one). Samples corresponding to x=0 and 0.1 show a semiconductor-metal transition at temperatures close to the Curie ones. The measured magnetoresistance change is about 49% at 270 K and 95% at 165 K for those samples, respectively. However, the x=0.2 and 0.3 compositions show insulating behaviour in the whole temperature range studied, with values of the magnetoresistance about 85% at 105 K and 74% at 90 K, respectively. The observed weakening of the double-exchange mechanism as the Cd doping level in these samples increases is discussed in terms of structural properties, cationic disorder and Mn³⁺/Mn⁴⁺content ratio.     

Synthesis and study of the crystallographic and magnetic structure of DyFeMnO5: A new ferrimagnetic oxide

The title oxide has been obtained by replacing Mn³⁺ by Fe³⁺ in the parent oxide DyMn₂O₅. The crystallographic and magnetic structures have been analysed from neutron powder diffraction (NPD) data, in complement with susceptibility and magnetic measurements. DyFeMnO₅ is orthorhombic, belonging to the Pbam space group as the parent compound. The crystal structure contains infinite chains of edge-sharing Mn⁴⁺O₆ octahedra, interconnected by dimer units of Fe³⁺O₅ square pyramids. There is a certain antisite disorder in the crystal structure, with 8.0% of the Mn⁴⁺ sites occupied by Fe cations, and 8.2% of the Fe³⁺ positions occupied by Mn³⁺ cations. The magnetization measurements show that DyFeMnO₅ presents magnetic order below T_C≈178 K; a study of the magnetic structure from the low-temperature NPD patterns indicates an antiferromagnetic coupling of the Mn⁴⁺ and Fe³⁺ spins, with the polarization of the Dy³⁺ magnetic moments parallel to the those of the Fe sublattice.     

Crystal structure and electronic properties of the new compounds, U6Fe16Si7 and its interstitial carbide U6Fe16Si7C

The new compounds U6Fe16Si7 and U6Fe16Si7C were prepared by arc-melting and subsequent annealing at 1500 °C. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction showed that they crystallize in the cubic space group (No. 225), with unit-cell parameters at room temperature a=11.7206(5) Å for U6Fe16Si7 and a=11.7814(2) Å for U6Fe16Si7C. Their crystal structures correspond to ordered variants of the Th6Mn23 type. U6Fe16Si7 adopts the Mg6Cu16Si7 structure type, whereas U6Fe16Si7C crystallizes with a novel “filled” quaternary variant. The inserted carbon is located in octahedral cages formed by six U atoms, with U-U interatomic distances of 3.509(1) Å. Insertion of carbon in the structure of U6Fe16Si7 has a direct influence on the U-Fe and Fe-Fe interatomic distances. The electronic properties of both compounds were investigated by means of DC susceptibility, electrical resistivity and thermopower. U6Fe16Si7 is a Pauli paramagnet. Its electrical resistivity and thermopower point out that it cannot be classified as a simple metal. The magnetic susceptibility of U₆Fe₁₆Si₇C is best described over the temperature range 100-300 K by using a modified Curie-Weiss law with an effective magnetic moment of 2.3(2) μ_B/U, a paramagnetic Weiss temperature, θ_p=57(2) K and a temperature-independent term χ₀=0.057(1) emu/mol. Both the electrical resistivity and thermopower reveal metallic behavior.     

Structural study and physical properties of a new phosphate KCuFe(PO4)2

Single crystals of a new phosphate KCuFe(PO₄)₂ have been prepared by the flux method and its structural and physical properties have been investigated. This compound crystallizes in the monoclinic system with the space group P2₁/n and its parameters are: a=7.958(3) Å, b=9.931(2) Å, c=9.039(2) Å, β=115.59(3)° and Z=4. Its structure consists of FeO₆ octahedra sharing corners with Cu₂O₈ units of edge-sharing CuO₅ polyhedra to form undulating chains extending infinitely along the b-axis. These chains are connected by the phosphate tetrahedra giving rise to a 3D framework with six-sided tunnels parallel to the [101] direction, where the K⁺ ions are located. The Mössbauer spectroscopy results confirm the exclusive presence of octahedral Fe³⁺ ions. The magnetic measurements show the compound to be antiferromagnetic with C_m=5.71 emu K/mol and θ=−156.5 K. The derived experimental effective moment μ_ex=6.76μ_B is somewhat higher than the theoretical one of μ_th=6.16μ_B, calculated taking only into account the spin contribution for Fe³⁺ and Cu²⁺ cations. Electrical measurements allow us to obtain the activation energy (1.22 eV) and the conductivity measurements suggest that the charge carriers through the structure are the potassium cations.     

Crystal and magnetic structures of the brownmillerite compound Ca2Fe1.039(8)Mn0.962(8)O5

The crystal and magnetic structures of the brownmillerite material, Ca₂Fe_1.039(8)Mn_0.962(8)O₅ were investigated using powder X-ray and neutron diffraction methods, the latter from 3.8 to 700 K. The compound crystallizes in Pnma space group with unit cell parameters of a=5.3055(5) Å, b=15.322(2) Å, c=5.4587(6) Å at 300 K. The neutron diffraction study revealed the occupancies of Fe³⁺ and Mn³⁺ ions in both octahedral and tetrahedral sites and showed some intersite mixing and a small, ∼4%, Fe excess. While bulk magnetization data were inconclusive, variable temperature neutron diffraction measurements showed the magnetic transition temperature to be 407(2) K below which a long range antiferromagnetic ordering of spins occurs with ordering wave vector k=(000). The spins of each ion are coupled antiferromagnetically with the nearest neighbors within the same layer and coupled antiparallel to the closest ions from the neighboring layer. This combination of intra- and inter-layer antiparallel arrangement of spins forms a G-type magnetic structure. The ordered moments on the octahedral and tetrahedral sites at 3.8 K are 3.64(16) and 4.23(16) μ_B, respectively.     

Investigation of substitution effects and the phase transition in type-I clathrates RbxCs8-xSn44□2 (1.3≤x≤2.1) using single-crystal X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, heat capacity and electrical resistivity measurements

The substitution of cations in Rb_xCs_8-xSn₄₄□₂(1.3≤x≤2.1) is reported. The compounds crystallize at room temperature in the space group adopting the type-I clathrate 2×2×2 superstructure with partly ordered framework vacancies (□), whereas at higher temperatures they transform to the primitive, more disordered modification (space group ). The guest atom distributions in the Sn cages on the Rb: Cs ratios is studied by means of single-crystal X-ray diffraction for Rb_2.1(1)Cs_5.8(1)Sn₄₄ at T=293 K (1), Rb_1.42(8)Cs_6.58(8)Sn₄₄ at T=293 K (2a), Rb_1.46(5)Cs_6.54(5)Sn₄₄ at T=373 K (2b) and Rb_1.32(8)Cs_6.68(8)Sn₄₄ at T=293 K (3). The structural order-disorder phase transition influences the electrical resistivity. The hysteresis observed for the electrical resistivity in combination with the symmetric shape of the specific heat anomaly suggests that the transformation is of first-order type and is characterized by an entropy change of about 2.5 J mol^-1 K^-1. The Raman spectrum for the low-temperature modification of 2 is also reported.     

On the magnetic structure of DyNiO3

The crystallographic structure of DyNiO₃ has been investigated at T=200, 100, and 2 K from high-resolution neutron powder diffraction (NPD) data. We show that the structure is monoclinic, space group P2₁/n, from the metal-insulator transition temperature at T_MI=564 K down to 2 K. The Ni atoms occupy two different sites 2d (Ni1) and 2c (Ni2), whose valences, estimated from bond-valence consideration, are +2.43(1) and +3.44(1) at 2 K, respectively. This is interpreted as the result of a partial charge disproportionation of the type 2Ni³⁺→Ni1^(3−δ)++Ni2^(3+δ)+, with δ≈0.55 at T=2 K. The magnetic structure has been studied from a NPD pattern at T=2 K, well below the establishment of the antiferromagnetic (AFM) ordering at T_N=154 K, as well as from sequential data collected from 16 K down to 2 K. The magnetic order is defined by the propagation vector k=(1/2,0,1/2). Two possible magnetic structures are compatible with the magnetic intensities. In the second solution both Ni sublattices participate in the magnetic order, as well as Dy since it corresponds to a total disproportionation of Ni³⁺ to Ni²⁺ and Ni⁴⁺. In the second solution both Ni sublattices participate in the magnetic order, as well as Dy. The magnetic moments for Ni1 and Ni2 atoms at T=2 K are 1.8 (2) and 0.8 (2) μ_B, respectively. These values are also compatible with a partial charge disproportionation. Dy³⁺ ions exhibit long-range magnetic ordering below 8 K. An abrupt contraction of the unit-cell volume is observed at this temperature, due to a magnetoelastic coupling. The magnetic moment for Dy³⁺ at T=2 K is 7.87 (6) μ_B.     

Structure and properties of the CaFe2O4-type cobalt oxide CaCo2O4

The calcium cobalt oxide CaCo₂O₄ was synthesized for the first time and characterized from a powder X-ray diffraction study, measuring magnetic susceptibility, specific heat, electrical resistivity, and thermoelectric power. CaCo₂O₄ crystallizes in the CaFe₂O₄ (calcium ferrite)-type structure, consisting of an edge- and corner-shared CoO₆ octahedral network. The structure of CaCo₂O₄ belongs to an orthorhombic system (space group: Pnma) with lattice parameters, a=8.789(2) Å, b=2.9006(7) Å and c=10.282(3) Å. Curie-Weiss-like behavior in magnetic susceptibility with the nearly trivalent cobalt low-spin state (Co³⁺, 3d, S=0), semiconductor-like temperature dependence of resistivity (ρ=3×10⁻¹ Ω cm at 380 K) with dominant hopping conduction at low temperature, metallic-temperature-dependent large thermoelectric power (Seebeck coefficient: S=+147 μV/K at 380 K), and Schottky-type specific heat with a small Sommerfeld constant (γ=4.48(7) mJ/Co mol K²), were observed. These results suggest that the compound possesses a metallic electronic state with a small density of states at the Fermi level. The doped holes are localized at low temperatures due to disorder in the crystal. The carriers probably originate from slight off-stoichiometry of the phase. It was also found that S tends to increase even more beyond 380 K. The large S is possibly attributed to residual spin entropy and orbital degeneracy coupled with charges by strong electron correlation in the cobalt oxides.     

Investigations of vanadium oxide bronzes θ-(Fe1−yAly)xV2O5

The vanadium oxide bronzes θ-(Fe_1?yAl_y)_xV₂O₅ are Curie-Weiss paramagnets and hopping semiconductors. The samples studied were synthesized by direct solid-state reaction and investigated by the X-ray diffraction, differential thermal analysis, electrical resistivity, magnetic susceptibility, and Mössbauer techniques. The crystal lattice parameters, effective magnetic moments of Fe³⁺ cations, Curie-Weiss temperatures, and the values of ⁵⁷Fe hyperfine interaction parameters were determined. Endothermic effects were observed for some of the samples.     

Mild hydrothermal synthesis and ferrimagnetism of Pr3Fe5O12 and Nd3Fe5O12 garnets

Two pure light rare earth iron garnets Pr₃Fe₅O₁₂ and Nd₃Fe₅O₁₂ single crystals were synthesized under mild hydrothermal conditions and structurally characterized by single crystal and powder X-ray diffraction methods. Both compounds crystallize in cubic space group Ia3?d with lattice parameters a=12.670(2) Å for Pr₃Fe₅O₁₂ and a=12.633(2) Å for Nd₃Fe₅O₁₂, respectively. The synthesis of compounds was studied with regard to phase evolution and morphology development with hydrothermal conditions. We proposed the formation mechanisms and formulated a reasonable explanation for their growth habits. Ferrimagnetic Curie temperatures which have been inferred from thermo-magnetization curves were 580 K for Pr₃Fe₅O₁₂ and 565 K for Nd₃Fe₅O₁₂, and the transitions of long range order were also evidenced by differential scanning calorimetry method. The result of magnetic properties has shown that moments of the large radius Pr³⁺ and Nd³⁺ ions are parallelly coupled with net moments of iron ions.     

Synthesis, magnetism and electronic structure of YbNi2−xFexAl8 (x=0.91) isolated from Al flux

The combination of ytterbium, nickel, iron in liquid aluminum resulted in the formation of the new intermetallic compound YbNi_2−xFe_xAl₈ (x=0.91) which adopts the CaCo₂Al₈ structure type with a=14.458(3) Å, b=12.455(3) Å, c=3.9818(8) Å and space group Pbam. Its resistivity drops with decreasing temperature, saturating to a constant value at lower temperatures. Above 50 K, the inverse magnetic susceptibility data follows Curie-Weiss Law, with a calculated μ_eff=2.19 μ_B. Although the observed reduced moment in magnetic susceptibility measurement suggests that the Yb ions in this compound are of mixed-valent nature, ab initio electronic structure calculations within density functional theory using LDA+U approximation give an f¹³ configuration in the ground state.     

Metamagnetic transition in the 75 K antiferromagnet Gd4Co2Mg3

Gd₄Co₂Mg₃ (Nd₄Co₂Mg₃ type; space group P2/m; a=754.0(4), b=374.1(1), c=822.5(3) pm and β=109.65(4)° as unit cell parameters) was synthesized from the elements by induction melting in a sealed tantalum tube. Its investigation by electrical resistivity, magnetization and specific heat measurements reveals an antiferromagnetic ordering at T_N=75(1) K. Moreover, this ternary compound presents a metamagnetic transition at low critical magnetic field (H_cr=0.93(2) T at 6 K) and exhibits a magnetic moment of 6.3(1) μ_B per Gd-atom at 6 K and H=4.6 T. Due to this transition the compound shows a moderate magnetocaloric effect; at 77 K the maximum of the magnetic entropy change is ΔS_M=−10.3(2) J/kg K for a field change of 0-4.6 T. This effect is compared to that reported previously for compounds exhibiting a magnetic transition in the same temperature range.     

Synthesis, structure and magnetic properties of porous magnetic composite, based on MCM-41 molecular sieve with Fe3O4 nanoparticles

Porous magnetic composites were prepared by the synthesis of molecular sieve MCM-41 in the presence of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles with average diameter of 15 nm. Nanoparticles were captured by porous silica matrix MCM-41, which resulted in their incorporation, as it was confirmed by TEM, SEM and X-ray diffraction. The materials possessed high surface area (392-666 m² g⁻¹), high pore volume (0.39-0.73 cm³ g⁻¹) along with high magnetic response (M_S up to 28.4 emu g⁻¹ at 300 K). Calcination of samples resulted in partial oxidation of Fe₃O₄ to α-Fe₂O₃. The influence of nanoparticles content on sorption and magnetic properties of the composites was shown. No hysteresis was found for the samples at 300 K; at 5 K, H_C was in the range 370-385 G for non-calcinated samples and 350-356 G for calcinated ones.     

Magnetic and charge transport properties of the Na-based Os oxide pyrochlore

The Na-based osmium oxide pyrochlore was synthesized for the first time by an ion-exchange method using KOs₂O₆ as a host. The composition was identified as Na_1.4Os₂O₆·H₂O by electron probe micro-analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, and structural analysis using synchrotron X-ray diffraction. Na_1.4Os₂O₆·H₂O crystallizes in a regular pyrochlore structure with some defects (space group: Fd-3m, a=10.16851(1) Å). Electrical resistivity, heat capacity, and magnetization measurements clearly showed absence of superconductivity down to 2 K, being in large contrast to what was found for the β-type pyrochlore superconductor AOs₂O₆ (A=Cs, Rb, and K). The Sommerfeld coefficient is 22 mJ K⁻² mol⁻¹, being the smallest among AOs₂O₆. A magnetic anomaly at ∼57 K and associated magneto-resistance (+3.7% at 2 K in 70 kOe) were found.