Solvothermal synthesis of nanocrystalline zinc oxide doped with Mn2+, Ni2+, Co2+ and Cr3+ ions

ZnO nanopowders doped with Mn²⁺, Ni²⁺, Co²⁺ and Cr³⁺ ions have been synthesised for the first time using a solvothermal reaction with microwave heating. The nanopowders were produced from a solution of zinc acetate and manganese (II), chromium (III), nickel (II) and cobalt (II) acetates, using ethylene glycol as a solvent. The content of Ni²⁺, Co²⁺ and Cr³⁺ ions in the solution and in the solid phase were close to each other up to 5 mol%. The doping level of Mn²⁺ ions in the solid is about 50% of that in the solution. No phases or compounds other than ZnO were detected by X-ray diffraction with Mn²⁺, Co²⁺ and Ni²⁺ doping. With Cr³⁺ ions a small amount of chromium oxide was found. None of the powders displayed any luminescence after doping. The Mn²⁺-doped powder displayed a paramagnetic behaviour. ESR and magnetisation investigations have revealed that no clustering of Mn²⁺ ions occurred up to a doping level of 3.9 mol%. The average grain size of powders doped with Ni²⁺, Cr³⁺, Co²⁺ and Mn²⁺ for a 10 mol% ion content in the solution was about 20 nm and the grain size dispersion 30%. With increasing dopant content the grain size decreased. It appears that the solvothermal process employed allows relatively high doping levels of the transition metal ions to be achieved without any dopant clustering or oxide precipitation.     

Magnetic structure of the manganites heavily doped by Fe and Cr ions

Powder neutron diffraction and magnetic studies have been performed for NdMn_0.5Fe_0.5O₃ and NdMn_0.5Cr_0.5O₃ manganites. In NdMn_0.5Cr_0.5O₃, magnetic structure has been revealed consisting of ferromagnetic and G-type antiferromagnetic components as result of a 3d-ions magnetic moments ordering. Magnetic moments of Nd-ions are parallel to the ferromagnetic component. In NdMn_0.5Fe_0.5O₃ only the antiferromagnetic G-type structure has been found whereas Nd-sublattice was not ordered. In the both compounds, magnetic moments of 3d-ions are significantly less than one can expect, what is interpreted in terms of intrinsic chemical inhomogeneity. Magnetic phase diagrams have been constructed for the Nd(Mn_1−xM_x)O₃ (M=Fe, Cr) systems, interpreted assuming superexchange interactions Mn³⁺–O–Cr³⁺ to be positive, Mn³⁺–O–Fe³⁺ negative and taking into account a disordered arrangement of Mn and Cr ions in the crystal structure sublattice as well as interplay between Jahn–Teller effect and superexchange interactions.     

Energy transfer among three luminescent centers in full-color emitting ZnGa2O4:Mn, Cr phosphors

The ZnGa₂O₄:Mn²⁺, Cr³⁺ phosphors show three colors; the blue band of 380 nm from the charge transfer between Ga-O, the green band of 505 nm from Mn²⁺ and the red band of 705 nm from Cr³⁺. As a variation of Mn²⁺ or Cr³⁺ concentrations in ZnGa₂O₄:Mn²⁺, Cr³⁺, the relative emission intensity can be tuned. This phenomenon is explained in terms of the energy transfer based on four factors: the spectral overlap between the energy donors (Ga-O) and the energy accepters of Mn²⁺ or Cr³⁺, the absorption cross section of the energy accepters, the distance between them, and the decay time of the energy donors. ZnGa₂O₄:0.0025Mn²⁺, 0.010Cr³⁺ shows the CIE coordinates of x=0.4014, y=0.3368, which is a pure white light. The single-phased full-color emitting ZnGa₂O₄:Mn²⁺, Cr³⁺ phosphors can be applied to illumination devices.     

Mössbauer investigation of Mn2Sb doped with Fe and Cr

The alloy systems Mn_2?xFe_xSb and Mn_1.98?xCr_xFe_0.02Sb have been investigated by Mössbauer spectroscopy of ⁵⁷Fe in the region x? 0.2.In Mn_2?xFe_xSb the spinflop transition known to exist in pure Mn₂Sb at T_t = 240 K is observed. At T_t the magnetic hyperfine field H changes from -50 to -80 kOe and the electric quadrupole interaction QS from positive to negative with increasing T. The value of ΔH at T_t can be understood in terms of dipolar contributions to H. Fe is deduced to occupy the Mn_I sites in the lattice.In Mn_1.98?xCr_xFe_0.02Sb the transition from the ferrimagnetic to the antiferromagnetic state is observed. In the antiferromagneti c state we find | H| ≈ 15 kOe.     

Molecular motion and solvent effects in several Cr5+ compounds using nonstationary nuclear-electron resonance

Dynamic proton polarization in several diols Cr⁵⁺ complex ion solutions has been studied at various magnetic field strengths and temperatures. Normally, in most organic radical solutions the dynamic enhancements of solvent proton resonances decay with increasing field and decreasing temperature due to the dipole-dipole intermolecular interactions, modulated by translational diffusion of individual molecules. In contrast to free radical, a strong solvation effect has been discovered in paramagnetic Cr⁵⁺ compounds. Drastic departures from the usual DNP behaviour have been observed. An explanation of the observed effects is proposed by considering the occurrence of hydrogen-bridged solvates. The important motional mechanism that modulates the proton-electron interaction switches from “translation” to “rotation” of the complex molecules. A new type of pulse double resonance equipment is used.     

Mn, Cr-co-doped MgAl2O4 phosphors for white LEDs

The Mn-, Cr-doped and Mn, Cr-co-doped MgAl₂O₄ powders have been synthesized via a gel-solid reaction method. Energy transfer from Mn²⁺ to Cr³⁺ has been observed for the first time in the co-doped MgAl₂O₄ phosphors. When excited with blue light with a wavelength of 450 nm at room temperature, both green emission from Mn²⁺ around 520 nm and red emission from Cr³⁺ around 675and 693 nm were generated. Moreover, the color of the emission can be modified by controlling the doping concentrations of Mn²⁺ and Cr³⁺. Therefore, MgAl₂O₄: Mn²⁺, Cr³⁺ could be used as a single-phased phosphor for white LED with a blue LED chip. The energy transfer in terms of Mn²⁺ to Cr³⁺ is determined by means of radiation and reabsorption.     

Investigations of EPR Parameters of MgTiO3:Cr3+, SrTiO3:Cr3+, and SrTiO3:Mn4+ Crystals

Complete high-order perturbation formulas are established based on charge-transfer (CT) and crystal-field (CF) mechanisms. The electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) g-factors of MgTiO₃:Cr³⁺, SrTiO₃:Cr³⁺, and SrTiO₃:Mn⁴⁺ crystals are calculated from the formulas. The calculations of the EPR g-factors agree well with the experimental values. The contribution rate of the CT mechanism to EPR parameters increases with increasing valence state of the 3d ⁿ ions in the crystals. For the higher-valence state 3d ³ Mn⁴⁺ ion in the crystals, the elucidation of the EPR parameters rationally involves both CF and CT mechanisms.     

A semi-empirical analysis of ZFS parameters for transition metal (TM) ions (Cr3+ and Mn2+) centers in K2MgF4

The local structure around the transition metal (TM) ions (Cr³⁺ and Mn²⁺) centers in K₂MgF₄, namely tetragonal (TE) center I, monoclinic (MO) center II and orthorhombic (OR) centers III, have been explored by semi-empirical calculations in the frame of superposition model (SPM). We proposed the most appropriate structural model for each center by matching the theoretically predicted zero-field splitting parameters (ZFSPs) with the experimental ones obtained by EPR spectroscopy. It is shown that the tetragonality of MgF₆ octahedra increases with the substitution of both Cr³⁺ and Mn²⁺ for Mg²⁺ sites as well as with a rather higher value for the latter one. A tilt angle of 12.51° is found for MO Cr³⁺ center, which is comparatively small, as compared to the other A₂BF₄ crystals such as K₂ZnF₄ and Tl₂ZnF₄. Almost three times larger relaxation of intervening F-ligand than that of other equatorial F-ligands is also indicated for OR Cr³⁺ center.     

A cusp in the 54Cr(p, γ)55Mn reaction

Absolute cross sections for the reactions ${}^{54}\text{Cr}\text{(}\text{p}\text{, γ)}{}^{55}\text{Mn and}{}^{54}\text{Cr}\text{(}\text{p, n}\text{)}{}^{54}\text{Mn}$ are presented for effective bombarding energies E_p from 0.830 to 3.606 MeV. A substantial cusp is observed in the ${}^{54}\text{Cr}\text{(}\text{p}\text{, γ)}{}^{55}\text{Mn}$ excitation function. The data are compared with the predictions of global Hauser-Feshbach models in order to evaluate their applicability to nucleosynthesis calculations.     

On the n-p phase transitions in Mn1-x Cu x Cr2S4

The Seebeck coefficient for polycrystalline samples of: 1. Mn_1-x Cu _x Cr₂S₄ (0.0 ≤ x < 1.00) at 313 K and 2. MnCr₂S₄ between 313–393 K is presented. The electrical resistivity of Mn_1-x Cu _x Cr₂S₄ as a function of x at the room temperature is also presented. The n-p phase transition is observed in two cases: 1. on changing x at constant temperature (313 K) for 0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.1 and 2. on changing temperature for MnCr₂S₄ at about 326 K. The first case is probably connected with the noncollinear ferromagnetic interaction of the chromium 3+ and 4+ ions. The second case follows from the strong ferrimagnetic interaction of the Mn²⁺ and Cr³⁺ ions in pure MnCr₂S₄.     

Magnetism of alloyed models of Cr(Mn) V and Mn Cr overlayers on V (001) substrates

The magnetism is calculated for substitutional alloyed of Cr_x(Mn_x)V_1-x monolayers (MLs) and Cr_xMn_1-x on V (001) surface with a variety of concentrations (x = 0.25, 0.50 and 0.75). The substitutional surface alloys were treated by an artificial super cell construction. Parallel magnetic ordering is obtained for all the considered structures. The surface net magnetization increases in terms of Cr (Mn) concentration in Cr_x(Mn_x)V_1-x/V (001) system, while no serious variations occur in Cr_xMn_1-x/V (001). Vanadium atoms at the interfacial layers acquire appreciable magnetic moments antiferromagneticlly (AF) coupled with the surface moments. Received 25 February 2002 / Received in final form 13 May 2002 Published online 14 October 2002 RID="a" ID="a"e-mail: jkalifa@sci.ju.edu.jo     

Magnetic properties of transition metal substituted La0.85Ag0.15Mn1−yMyO3 compounds (M=Co, Cr and Al)

In this paper we report a systematic study of Mn-site substitution by M=Co, Cr and Al in La_0.85Ag_0.15MnO₃ series to understand the magnetic interactions between Mn and other transition metals. The long-range ferromagnetic (FM) ordering of the parent compound was significantly affected by Mn-site substitution. The measured magnetic properties of Co-doped samples have been explained on the basis of FM interactions in Mn³⁺-O-Mn⁴⁺, Co²⁺-O-Mn⁴⁺, Co³⁺-O-Mn⁴⁺ networks and simultaneous antiferromagnetic (AFM) interactions in Mn⁴⁺-O-Mn⁴⁺, Co²⁺-O-Mn³⁺ networks. The magnetic properties of Cr-doped compounds could be understood on the basis of double exchange FM interactions in Mn³⁺-O²⁻-Mn⁴⁺ networks and competing AFM in Cr³⁺-O-Mn⁴⁺, Mn⁴⁺-O-Mn⁴⁺, Cr³⁺-O-Mn³⁺ networks. However, it is found that the doping of Al ions play a role of magnetic dilution, without contributing any other competing magnetic interaction. The field variations of magnetization of all the above three series could be analysed by fitting to Brillouin function model and the effective spin contribution for FM has been determined. The measured saturation magnetization has been explained quantitatively.     

Further EPR study of paramagnetic Cr3+ centers in KTiOPO4

Careful reanalysis of EPR spectra of Cr³⁺ ions in KTiOPO₄ has been carried out in order to resolve the weaker lines not considered in our previous study. Two additional centers denoted as C and D have now been identified and the respective spin Hamiltonian parameters have been determined. The reanalysis of the results for the centers A and B identified previously and those for the new centers C and D indicates that the centers A and C originate from Cr³⁺ ions at Ti(2) sites, whereas the centers B and D originate from Cr³⁺ ions at Ti(1) sites. Sixteen magnetically inequivalent Cr³⁺ sites are assigned to two crystallographically different titanium sites: Ti(1) and Ti(2). Possible charge compensation models for the two different centers arising from Cr³⁺ ions at each of the two Ti sites are also suggested.     

Optical properties of 3d-ions doped RbCdF3. Radiation effects

Abstract

The optical properties of RbCdF₃ crystals doped with Cr³⁺, Mn²⁺ and Ni²⁺ have been studied. Absorption and photoluminescence spectra correspond to these ions in an octahedral environment. The lifetimes of the emitting levels have been measured at different temperatures. Single exponential decays are obtained for Mn²⁺ and Ni²⁺ while a non-exponential decay is found in the case of Cr³⁺. Radiation effects have also been studied. A new absorption band is produced in the 305 nm region by RT X-irradiation. Exciting with light in this band the 3d-ions emissions are observed.     

Fully relativistic analysis of the covalence effects for the isoelectronic 3d ions (Cr, Mn, Fe) in SrTiO3

Fully relativistic calculations of the energy levels, absorption spectra, molecular orbitals (MO) compositions, covalence effects and energies of the charge transfer (CT) transitions for three isoelectronic ions Cr³⁺, Mn⁴⁺, Fe⁵⁺ in the SrTiO₃ (STO) crystal have been performed. The recently developed first-principles approach to the analysis of the absorption spectra based on the first principles discrete variational multi-electron method (DV-ME) (K. Ogasawara et al., Phys. Rev. B 64 (2001) 115413) was used in the calculations. As a result, energy levels of the above ions, their absorption spectra and energies of the lowest CT transitions were all calculated. By performing analysis of the MO population, it was shown that the degree of covalence of the chemical bonds between 3d ions and oxygen ions in SrTiO₃ increases in the following order: Cr³⁺→Mn⁴⁺→Fe⁵⁺, whereas the CT energies monotonically decrease in the same order.     

Mn55(p,p′γ)Mn55 reaction low proton energies

Angular distributions of gamma rays following the inelastic scattering of protons from Mn⁵⁵ have been measured at proton energies below 2.50 MeV. The mixture multipole orders for the transition 983→126 keV and 1,530→0 in Mn⁵⁵ have been obtained.     

Non-collinear magnetic moments of seven-atom Cr, Mn and Fe clusters

The non-collinearity of magnetic moments of pentagonal bipyramid Cr₇, Mn₇ and Fe₇ clusters is discussed. The magnetic moments are calculated by the discrete variational non-collinear spin-density functional method. For the Cr₇ cluster, a coplanar magnetic arrangement appears at the large interatomic distance. With decreasing the interatomic distance, the coplanar arrangement changes to the parallel arrangement with a small absolute magnetic moment. For the Mn₇ cluster, the magnetic arrangement changes from coplanar to antiparallel with decreasing the interatomic distance. Also for the Fe₇ cluster, some coplanar magnetic moments appear at the interatomic distance of 2.23 ?. In these coplanar magnetic arrangements, the magnetic moment at the basal site of the pentagon rotates with a step of 144 degrees for the Cr₇ clusters and 72 degrees for the Mn₇ and Fe₇ clusters. Received 30 November 2000     

Laser and absorption saturation measurements of Cr crystals, pumped by broadband pulsed 940 nm radiation

The characteristics of a 940 nm pumped Cr⁴⁺:forsterite laser have been investigated using a pulsed colour centre laser as the excitation source. Laser threshold, slope efficiency and temporal behaviour have been determined for high and low Cr⁴⁺ doped material. 940 nm pumping is found to be more efficient than 532 and 730–770 nm excitation. Discrepancies with 1064 nm pumping are attributed to excited state absorption. Absorption saturation measurements have been used to assess the potential applications of Cr⁴⁺:forsterite, Cr⁴⁺:YAG and Cr⁴⁺: Lu₃A1₅O₁₂ (LuAG) as passive Q-switches for Nd lasers in the 940 nm region.     

Measurement of the proton NMR field shift in aqueous solutions containing Cu2+, Cr3+, Fe3+ and Mn2+ ions

There are presented measurements of the NMR field shifts for aqueous protons in aqueous solutions containing paramagnetic inorganic compounds of Cu²⁺, Cr³⁺, Fe³⁺ and Mn²⁺ ions. The measurements have been performed on samples in the form of transversally magnetized long cylinders using both the internal and external NMR standards. The experimentally determined shifts are related to the NMR field position of protons in pure water. The results for demagnetizing shifts are compared with the data which were computed from the magnetic susceptibility values (measured by magnetostatic method), the chemical shifts are compared with the results of other authors. Results of measurements indicate a small chemical shift of internal standards in some solutions.