The transport and magnetic properties of La–Pb–Mg–Mn–O manganites at low temperatures

The structure, transport properties and the magnetoresistance behavior in the temperature interval 77–400 K of the perovskite-like lanthanum manganites La_0.6Pb_0.4−xMg_x+yMnO₃ (x=0, 0.1, 0.2 and y=0, 0.2) were investigated. Polycrystalline bulk samples were prepared by sol–gel self-combustion and subsequent heat treatment at 1000 °C for different times, 40, 80, 160 and 320 min. All manganites exhibit a peak in the resistivity around 200–250 K, below the ferromagnetic ordering temperature (320–330 K). An isotropic and negative magnetoresistance has been observed in all compounds. Magnetoresistance MR exhibits a peak in the temperature range 130–150 K, below SC–metal transition temperature. Magnitude of MR at the peaks was nearly 27% in the magnetic field of 2 T. At room temperature, a magnetoresistance of 9.5% for La_0.6Pb_0.2Mg_0.2MnO₃ composition was obtained. Longer heat treatment time enhanced the magnetorezistive properties.     

Magnetocaloric effect and multifunctional properties of Ni–Mn-based Heusler alloys

The studies of magnetocaloric properties, phase transitions, and phenomena related to magnetic heterogeneity in the vicinity of the martensitic transition (MT) in Ni–Mn–In and Ni–Mn–Ga off-stoichiometric Heusler alloys are summarized. The crystal structure, magnetocaloric effect (MCE), and magnetotransport properties were studied for the following alloys: Ni₅₀Mn_50−xIn_x, Ni_50−xCo_xMn₃₅In₁₅, Ni₅₀Mn_35−xCo_xIn₁₅, Ni₅₀Mn₃₅In₁₄Z (Z=Al, Ge), Ni₅₀Mn₃₅In_15−xSi_x, Ni_50−xCo_xMn_25+yGa_25−y, and Ni_50–xCo_xMn_32−yFeyGa₁₈. It was found that the magnetic entropy change, ΔS, associated with the inverse MCE in the vicinity of the temperature of the magneto-structural transition, TM, persists in a range of (125-5) J/(kg K) for a magnetic field change ΔH=5 T. The corresponding temperature varies with composition from 143 to 400 K. The MT in Ni₅₀Mn_50−xIn_x (x=13.5) results in a transition between two paramagnetic states. Associated with the paramagnetic austenite-paramagnetic martensite transition ΔS=24 J/(kg K) was detected for ΔH=5 T at T=350 K. The variation in composition of Ni₂MnGa can drastically change the magnetic state of the martensitic phase below and in the vicinity of TM. The presence of the martensitic phase with magnetic moment much smaller than that in the austenitic phase above TM leads to the large inverse MCE in the Ni₄₂Co₈Mn_32−yFeyGa₁₈ system. The adiabatic change of temperature (ΔT_ad) in the vicinity of TC and TM of Ni₅₀Mn₃₅In₁₅ and Ni₅₀Mn₃₅In₁₄Z (Z=Al, Ge) was found to be ΔT_ad=−2 K and 2 K for ΔH=1.8 T, respectively. It was observed that |ΔT_ad|≈1 K for ΔH=1 T for both types of transitions. The results on resistivity, magnetoresistance, Hall resistivity in some In-based alloys are discussed.     

Ferromagnetic-to-antiferromagnetic transition in (Hf1−xTix)Fe2 intermetallic compounds induced by geometrical frustration of the Fe(2a) sites

The ferromagnetic-to-antiferromagnetic transition in the hexagonal (Hf_1−xTi_x)Fe₂ (0?x?1) intermetallic compounds has been investigated by ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy. At 10 K, the transition occurs within rather narrow concentration limits, around x=0.55–0.65. We found that the key factor governing the unexpected quick change of the magnetic structure is the magnetic frustration of the Fe(2a) sites. The magnetic frustration is caused by the noncollinearity of the Fe(6h) magnetic sublattice. The noncollinearity arises from the rotation of the magnetic moments due to the competition between the ferromagnetic exchange interactions and the antiferromagnetic Fe(6h)–Ti–Fe(6h) interaction. In the compounds with x=0.4–0.6, the temperature transitions to the antiferromagnetic state are observed. As an example, the Hf_0.4Ti_0.6Fe₂ compound is completely antiferromagnetic above 200 K.     

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.     

B and Pt NMR study of the superconductors Li2(Pd1−xPtx)3B without inversion symmetry

We report the ¹¹B and ¹⁹⁵Pt NMR measurements in non-centrosymmetric superconductors Li₂(Pd_1−xPt_x)₃B (x = 0.0, 0.2, 0.5, 1.0). From the measurements of spin–lattice relaxation time (T₁), we found that there was a coherence peak (CP) just below superconducting transition temperature (T_c) for x = 0–0.5 but no CP in x = 1. We demonstrated that the system for x = 0–0.5 were BCS superconductors but there existed line node in the superconducting gap for x = 1.0. The ¹⁹⁵Pt Knight Shift in x = 0.2 decreased below T_c, indicating spin-singlet state. The results showed that BCS superconducting state evolves into an exotic state with line-nodes in the gap function when x is increased, as the spin–orbit coupling is enhanced.     

Influence of hydrogen on structural and magnetic properties of the hexagonal Laves phase HoMn2

The HoMn₂ compound crystallizes in the cubic C15 or hexagonal C14 Laves phases depending on preparation. The effect of hydrogen absorption on structural and magnetic properties of HoMn₂H_x hydrides for the C14 phase has been investigated by XRD and AC/DC magnetometry in the temperature ranges of 75-380 K and 4-390 K, respectively. In addition to general features revealed by RMn₂H_x compounds (R=rare earth or Yttrium), unusual behavior of these hydrides was found. In particular, a transformation from the hexagonal to the monoclinic structure was detected, the same as that observed for cubic HoMn₂H_x compounds. The structural transformations are correlated to the magnetic behavior. The presented results are compared mainly with the properties of the cubic HoMn₂H_x hydrides as well as with those of other RMn₂H_x hydrides. Tentative magnetic and structural phase diagrams are proposed.     

Influence of Tb substitution for La on the structure,magnetic and magneto-transport properties of La1.2Sr1.8Mn2O7

The physical properties of Tb³⁺ ions substitution at A-site are investigated in the layered manganite La_1.2Sr_1.8Mn₂O₇. A series of La_1.2−xTb_xSr_1.8Mn₂O₇ (x=0, 0.05, 0.15, and 0.20) shows that doping with a Tb ion of smaller radius in La_1.2Sr_1.8Mn₂O₇ caused diffraction peaks to shift to high angle. Some samples have an impure diffraction at about 30°, but all samples form single-phase. Samples can be well indexed on a Sr₃Ti₂O7-type tetragonal structure with the space group I4/mmm. According to the M-T curves, when x≤0.05, the series of samples shows ferromagnetism at low temperatures. With increasing temperature, they have two magnetic transitions at different temperatures. When x≥0.15, the magnetizations dramatically decrease. The ρ–T curves of samples show the metal–insulator transition for x=0, 0.05, and the maximum MR values in magnetic field 5 T are 74% at about 73 K and 94% at about 86 K. When x≥0.15, the samples remain in the insulator state in the whole observed temperature range, and the maximum MR values of 86% and 69% appeared at 74 K and 42 K.     

Influence of boron on the giant magnetocaloric effect of La(Fe0.9Si0.1)13

The influences of boron addition on the phase formation, Curie temperature and magnetic entropy change of the NaZn₁₃-type La(Fe_0.9Si_0.1)₁₃ compound have been investigated. Eight boron containing La(Fe_0.9Si_0.1)₁₃B_x samples were prepared with x=0, 0.03, 0.06, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.5 and 0.6, respectively. Experimental results show that a small amount of B addition in La(Fe_0.9Si_0.1)₁₃ forms the solid solution NaZn₁₃-type structure phase by substituting B for Si or doping B into interstitial position of the lattice, preserves its giant magnetocaloric effects due to their first-order structural/magnetic transition, as well as increase its Curie temperature T_c slightly. The maximum magnetic entropy changes in the magnetic field change of 0–1.6 T are around 20 J kg^–1 K^–1 for the samples with Boron addition less than 0.3, while improving the Curie temperatures by 2 K.     

Magnetic behavior of MnAs precipitates in Ga1−xMnxAs diluted magnetic semiconductor

Ferromagnetic Ga_1−xMn_xAs layers (where x≈4.7–5.5%) were grown on (1 0 0) GaAs substrates by molecular beam epitaxy. These p-type (Ga,Mn)As films were revealed to have a ferromagnetic structure and ferromagnetism is observed up to a Curie temperature of 318 K, which is ascribed to the presence of MnAs secondary magnetic phases within the film. It is highly likely that the phase segregation occurs due to the high Mn cell temperature around 890–920 °C, as it is well established that GaMnAs is unstable at such a high temperature. The MnAs precipitate in the samples with x≈4.7–5.5% has a Curie temperature T_c≈318 K, which was characterized from field-cooled and zero-field-cooled magnetization curves.     

Structure and magnetic properties of (Nd,Dy)16(Fe,Co)76−xTixB8 powders prepared by mechanical alloying

Nanocrystalline (Nd,Dy)₁₆(Fe,Co)_76−xTi_xB₈ magnets were prepared by mechanical alloying and respective heat treatment at 973–1073 K/30–60 min. An addition of 0.5 at % of Ti results in an increase of coercivity from 796 to 1115 kA m⁻¹. Partial substitution of Nd by Dy results in an additional increase of coercivity up to 1234 kA m⁻¹. Mössbauer investigations shows that for x?1 the (Nd,Dy)₁₆(Fe,Co)_76−xTi_xB₈ powders are single phase. For higher Ti contents (x>1) the mechanically alloyed powders heat treated at 973 K are no more single phase, and the coercivity decreases due to the presence of an amorphous phase. A heat treatment at a higher temperature (1073 K) for longer time (1 h) results in the full recrystallisation of powders. The mean hyperfine field of the Nd₂Fe₁₄B phase decreases for titanium contents of 0?x?1, and remains constant for x>1. This indicates that the Ti content in the Nd₂Fe₁₄B phase reaches its maximum value.     

Spin glass-like behavior,giant magnetocaloric and giant magnetoresistance effect in PrPb manganites

The Pr_1−xPb_xMnO₃ (x=0.1–0.5) perovskites have been fabricated by solid-state reaction. The X-ray diffraction patterns show that the samples are of single phase with orthorhombic structure. The field-cooled (FC) and zero-field-cooled (ZFC) thermomagnetic curves measured at low field and low temperatures exhibit the spin glass-like state. The Curie temperature of samples increased with increase in Pb content. The maximum magnetic entropy change |ΔS_m|_max reaches the giant values of 3.91 and 3.68 J/kg K for quite low magnetic field change of 1.35 T for the samples x=0.1 and 0.4, respectively. The resistance measurements show that there is insulator–metal phase transition on the R(T) curves for samples with x?0.3. The giant magnetoresistance effect is also observed for all samples studied.     

Phase analysis and magnetocaloric properties of Zr substituted Gd-Si-Ge alloys

The structure, microstructure, magneto-structural transition and magnetocaloric effect have been investigated in series of (Gd_5−xZr_x)Si₂Ge₂ alloys with 0≤x≥0.20. X-ray powder diffraction analysis revealed the presence of orthorhombic structure for Zr containing alloys at room temperature in contrast to the monoclinic structure observed in the parent Gd₅Si₂Ge₂ alloy. The microstructural studies reveal that, low Zr addition (x≤0.1) resulted in low volume fraction of detrimental Gd₅Si₃-type secondary phase compared to that present in the parent alloy. All the Zr containing alloys have shown the presence of only second order magnetic transition unlike the parent alloy showing both first order structural and second order magnetic transition. A moderate (ΔS)_M value of −5.5 J/kg K was obtained for the x=0.05 alloy at an enhanced operating temperature of 292 K compared to −7.8 J/kg K at 274 K of the parent alloy for an applied field of 2 T. The interesting feature of Zr (x=0.05) containing alloy is the wide operating temperature range of ∼25 K than that of ∼10-12 K for the parent, which resulted in enhanced net refrigerant capacity of 103 J/kg compared to that of 53 J/kg for the parent alloy.     

Magnetic and transport properties of granular and Heusler-type glass-coated microwires

We studied magnetic and structural properties of granular Co_xCu_100−x (5<x<40 at%), Cu₆₃Fe₃₇ and Heusler-type Ni₂MnGa glass-coated microwires. We found that the structure of Co–Cu microwires consists of two phases: fcc Cu for all the samples and fcc α-Co present for higher Co content. In the case of low Co content, Co atoms are distributed within the Cu matrix. The quantity and the size of grains strongly depend on the geometry of the microwire. Co–Cu and Fe–Cu microwires exhibited considerable magnetoresistance (MR). For Co_xCu_100−x microwires at x≥30 the anisotropic contribution to MR has been observed. Temperature dependences of magnetization measured without an external magnetic field (ZFC) and in the presence of a field (FC) show considerable difference below 20 K, indicating the presence of small α-Fe or Co grains embedded in the Cu matrix. Annealed Ni₂MnGa microwires showed ferromagnetic behavior with Curie temperature about 330 K and polycrystalline structure with space group I4/mmm and lattice parameters a=3.75 Å and c=6.78 Å.     

The role of iron in the formation of the magnetic structure and related properties of La0.8Sr0.2Co1−xFexO3 (x=0.15, 0.2, 0.3)

La_0.8Sr_0.2Co_1−xFe_xO₃ (x=0.15, 0.2, 0.3) samples were studied by means of AC magnetic susceptibility, magnetization, magnetoresistance and ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectrometry. Iron was found to take on a high spin 3d^5−α electronic state in each of the samples, where α refers to a partly delocalized 3d electron. The compounds were found to exhibit a spin-cluster glass transition with a common transition temperature of ∼53 K. The spin-cluster glass transition is visualized in the ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectra as the slowing down of magnetic relaxation below ∼70 K, thereby showing that iron takes part in the formation of the glassy magnetic phase. The paramagnetic-like phase found at higher temperatures is identified below T_c≈195 K as being composed of weakly interacting, magnetically ordered nanosized clusters of magnetic ions in part with a magnetic moment oriented opposite to the net magnetic moment of the cluster. For each of the samples a considerable low-temperature negative magnetoresistance was found, whose magnitude in the studied range decreases with increasing iron concentration. The observed results obtained on the present compounds are qualitatively explained assuming that the absolute strengths of magnetic exchange interactions are subject to the relation ∣J_Co–Co∣<∣J_Fe–Co∣<∣J_Fe–Fe∣.     

Hydrogen absorption and field-dependent diamagnetism of SmNiAl

Hydrogen absorption properties of SmNiAl were systematically investigated between room temperature and 673 K over the pressure range from 0 to 10 MPa. It absorbs hydrogen without clear plateaus, forms hydride SmNiAlH_x (x=0.75–2.04) without structural change below 623 K and decomposes into SmH₂ and NiAl at higher temperatures. Then, the magnetic curves, the field-cooled (FC) and the zero-field-cooled (ZFC) susceptibilities of SmNiAl and its hydride were investigated. SmNiAl behaves as paramagnetic above 65 K, but has three antiferromagnetic transitions at lower temperatures. Hydrogenation enhances its magnetism, but weakens the interaction between magnetic moments. In the FC process, hydrogenation especially induces an anomalous diamagnetism. Mechanisms for the hydrogen absorption, structural change and magnetism were discussed.     

Low field magneto-transport in LBSMO–PMMA composite

The low field magneto-transport has been measured as a function of temperature in the range 77–300 K and magnetic field; H?3.6 kOe for La_0.7Ba_0.2Sr_0.1MnO₃ (LBSMO)–x wt% PMMA composites where x=0, 2, 6 and 10. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) study reveals that no structural modification has occurred in the LBSMO in the composite. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) investigation shows PMMA getting dispersed through the sample volume and some LBSMO grains appear to be coated with the polymer. The metal-like transition observed at ∼150 K in the virgin LBSMO sample disappears in the composite samples and the resistance shows an increase of about three orders of magnitude as the polymer concentration is increased to 10 wt%. Despite this huge increase in the resistance, the low field magneto-resistance (LFMR) shows an enhancement although smaller than the values commonly observed for other manganite-polymer composite systems. Spin polarized tunneling that causes LFMR seems to be enhanced in the composites.     

Structure, magneto-structural transitions and magnetocaloric properties in Ni50−xMn37+xIn13 melt spun ribbons

Melt spun Ni_50−xMn_37+xIn₁₃ (2≤x≤5) ribbons were investigated for the structure, microstructure, magneto-structural transitions and inverse magnetocaloric effect (IMCE) associated with the first-order martensitic phase transition. The influence of excess Mn in Ni site (or Ni/Mn content) on the martensite transition and the associated magnetic and magnetocaloric properties are discussed. It was found that with the increase in Mn content, the martensitic transition shifted from 325 to 240 K as x is varied from 2 to 4, and the austenite phase was stabilized at room temperature. The x=5 ribbon did not show the martensitic transition. For the x=3 ribbon, the structural and magnetic transitions are close together unlike in the x=4 ribbon in which they are far (∼60 K) apart. The zero field cooled and field cooled curves support the presence of exchange bias blocking temperature due to antiferromagnetic interactions in the ribbons. A large change in the magnetization between the martensite and austenite phases was observed for a small variation in the Ni/Mn content, which resulted in large IMCE. A large positive magnetic entropy change (ΔS_M) of 32 J/kg K at room temperature (∼ 300 K) for a field change of 5 T with a net refrigeration capacity of 64 J/kg was obtained in the Ni₄₇Mn₄₀In₁₃ ribbon.     

Pulsed laser deposition synthesis of superconducting (Cu,C)Ba2CuOx thin films

(Cu, C)–Ba–O thin films have been deposited at low growth temperature of 450–570 °C by pulsed laser deposition method. A control of CO₂ gas pressure and the growth temperature, usage of BaCu_yO_x pellet target resulted in an expansion of twice c-axis length of BaCuO₂ structure (2c phase) and a significant rise of conductivity. Measurements of in-situ XPS suggest that the 2c phase should be (Cu, C)Ba₂CuO_x [(Cu, C)-1201]. The maximum temperature of onset of the superconducting transition and zero resistance state obtained so far were 60 and 47 K, respectively.     

A study on magnetoelastic properties of Tb3 (Fe28−xCox) V1.0 (x=0, 3, 6) compounds

In this work, The magnetoelastic properties of polycrystalline samples of Tb₃ (Fe_28−xCo_x) V_1.0 (x=0, 3, 6) intermetallic compounds are investigated by means of linear thermal expansion and magnetostriction measurements in the temperature range of 77–515 K under applied magnetic fields up to 1.5 T. The linear thermal expansion increases with the Co content. The well-defined anomalies observed in the linear thermal expansion coefficients for Tb₃ (Fe_28−xCo_x) V_1.0 (x=0, 3, 6) compounds are associated with the magnetic ordering temperature for x=0 and spin reorientation temperatures for x=3, 6. Below transition temperatures, the value of the longitudinal magnetostriction (λ_Pa) at 1.6 T increases with Co content.     

Surface and bulk phenomena in the process of hydride formation in thin films of rare earth metals: Comparison between terbium and europium

Work function changes ΔΦ caused by H₂ interaction with thin terbium and europium films deposited on glass under UHV conditions were correlated with hydrogen uptake and electrical resistance R, measured in situ. For both metals, the course of ΔΦ(H/Me) at room temperature confirms the change in charge-transfer direction on the surface during hydride formation. As a result, the hydrogen adsorbate's nature is changed from positively polarized (precursor state) to negatively polarized adspecies. The hydrogen behavior is significantly different at low temperature due to the formation of the surface ordered low-temperature phase (α′) with positively polarized hydrogen adspecies. This phase, strongly inhibiting penetration of hydrogen into the bulk, is stable up to 100 K for terbium and 160 K for europium. Increasing temperature above these values resulted in additional large absorption of hydrogen. Moreover, differences in the course of R(H/Me) are clearly noticeable between the investigated metals. The resistance of thin TbH_x (x ∼ 3) films in our experiments did not exceed 1 kΩ, however transition of thin metallic europium film into EuH_y (y ∼ 2) increased the resistance up to 10 MΩ. This dissimilarity in electrical behavior can be explained by the coexistence of two factors which are different for the two metals in question: the phase relation of hydrides and the response of thin film to stress generated during hydride formation.