Synthesis and magnetic properties of the InSb-MnSb eutectic

It has been demonstrated by a combination of physical and chemical methods that InSb and MnSb form an eutectic (6.5 mol % MnSb, T _m = 513°C). A composition consisting of a [110] oriented InSb single crystal matrix and faceted single-crystal MnSb inclusions has been grown by the Bridgman method. The composition shows pronounced electrical conductivity anisotropy. The electrical conductivity along needle-like MnSb inclusions is 5 times higher than the electrical conductivity in the perpendicular direction. The composition possesses magnetic properties and has a Curie temperature of ∼600 K. The material is of interest as a substrate for ferromagnet/semiconductor heterostructures.     

Sign of the electric field gradient tensor and the nature of the low temperature phase transition in Fe(pyridine)2Cl2

Mossbauer spectra of Fe(pyridine)₂Cl₂ have been determined in large external magnetic fields at room temperature and 78 K. The principal component of the electric field gradient tensor is positive and consistent with an electron in the d_xy orbital. The results indicate no change in orbital ground state for the low temperature phase transition of this material.     

Etude magnétothermoélectrique de la transition métal-semiconducteur dans les composés Cr2+ϵSe3 (0 ≤ ϵ ≤ 0,04): II. Etude expérimentale et interprétation: mécanismes de conduction

A negative and very large longitudinal Nernst effect is encountered in the semiconducting compounds of the Cr_2+?Se₃ family. The sign, the amplitude, and the variation of the longitudinal Nernst coefficient Q″(H) versus temperature could be explained either by phonon-drag phenomena or by the presence of magnetic polarons. For an n-type semiconductor, the Seebeck coefficient curve S₀ = f(T) exhibits a peak near the Néel temperature. The vanishing of this peak when a magnetic field is applied confirms the existence of magnetic polarons. Under an infinitely high field, the observed proportionality between the coefficient S(∞) and the temperature shows that the conduction is due to the hopping of polarons (Cutler and Mott criterion). To interpret the thermoelectric power and electrical conductivity a model is proposed in which electrons are localized by the disorder of vacancies (Anderson localization). Each carrier, surrounded by a ferromagnetic cluster and a lattice deformation, is moving by jumps. On another semiconductor compound a reversal of the sign of the longitudinal Nernst effect appears at 47 K, in addition to the change of sign of S₀ at 28 K. Such a behavior may be explained by the presence of two types of carriers at low temperatures.     

Variable-range hopping conductivity in Lu-doped Bi2Te3

The Seebeck coefficient enhancement due to an increase of density-of-states effective mass of electron has been found in n-type Bi_1.9Lu_0.1Te₃. This enhancement is assumed to be related to forming the narrow and non-parabolic impurity (Lu) band with local maximum of electronic density of states lying near the Fermi level. Minimum in the specific electrical resistivity, ρ, originated from change of conductivity mechanism was observed at temperature T_m ≈ 11 K. Above T_m, the ρ change is due to decrease of electron mobility via acoustic phonon scattering. Below T_m, the variable-range hopping conductivity takes place. The electron hops between the localized states of the impurity energy band occur via tunneling process. Using the temperature and magnetic field dependences of ρ, the localization radius of electron was estimated as ≈6 nm. Two parts in the magnetic field dependence of the electrical resistivity were found at temperature of 2 K. At weak magnetic fields, the ρ change is in agreement with the variable-range hopping conductivity mechanism. At high magnetic fields, the positive and almost linear transverse and longitudinal magnetoresistances were observed at low temperatures. Both variable-range hopping conductivity and positive linear magnetoresistance are characteristics of disordered and inhomogeneous semiconductors.     

Ferromagnetism of manganese-doped InSb alloys

InSb samples containing 0.22–1.42 wt % manganese were synthesized and identified. The unit cell parameter decreased as the manganese concentration increased. The samples contained microinclusions of manganese antimonides. Electrical and magnetic measurements showed two ferromagnetic phases (In_1?x Mn_xSb solid solution with T _c ～ 7 K and MnSb with T _c ～ 580 K) and a ferrimagnetic phase (Mn₂Sb). The samples had p-type conductivity with a charge carrier concentration of about 10²⁰cm^?3. The semiconductor conductivity was observed at low temperatures and changed to the metal conductivity with temperature elevation.     

Etude magnetothermoélectrique de la transition métal-semiconducteur dans les composés Cr2+εSe3 (0 ≤ ε ≤ 0,04): I. Dispositif de mesure de l'effet Nernst longitudinal

Experimental equipment is described which permits the measurement of the thermoelectric power (TEP) between 5 and 300 K in a magnetic field (longitudinal Nernst effect) up to 10 T. It is to be used to study thoroughly the metal-semiconductor transition in Cr_2+εSe₃ which encompasses n-type semiconductors and p-type metallic compounds. The delicate problem of temperature measurements below 20 K, in a magnetic field, has been solved by the use of “Carbon-Glass” resistance sensors which have exhibited high sensitivity and reproducibility in high magnetic fields. At 5 K, the very small temperature difference (about 0.5 K) between the sides of the sample is measured with an accuracy better than 3%. The TEP in a magnetic field is obtained with an accuracy of approximately 5%.     

Magnetic superexchange involving the oxygen-sulfur-oxygen pathway of the sulfate ion: A Mössbauer spectroscopy and magnetic susceptibility study of Fe(2,9-di-CH3-phenanthroline) SO4

Zero-field Mössbauer spectra of powder samples of Fe(2,9-di-CH₃-phenanthroline) SO₄ over the range 1.7 to 300°K show a large (～ 3.6 mm/sec) temperature-independent quadrupole splitting corresponding to an orbital singlet ground term. The chemical isomer shift, δ_FE=O, is 1.16 mm/sec (source and absorber at 4.2°K) corresponding to six coordinate high-spin iron (II). Below 4.2°K, the compound exhibits magnetic hyperfine splitting suggesting slow relaxation and the possibility of long-range three-dimensional magnetic ordering with a critical temperature T_c such that 3.5°K < T_c < 4.2°K and an internal hyperfine field H_n = 325 kG at 1.69°K. High-field Mössbauer spectra at 300°K indicate that the principal component of the electric field gradient tensor is positive and axial. Similar spectra at 4.2°K show an absence of nuclear Zeeman splitting for applied fields up to 60 kG, and indicate that at 4.2°K the material is rapidly relaxing but with substantial magnetic polarization and a negative internal hyperfine field. The temperature dependence of the magnetic susceptibility confirms antiferromagnetic interactions with a broad maximum χ′_M at ～ 11.8°K presumably due to low-dimensionality exchange interactions (possibly one) along MOSOM chains. Least-squares fits of χ′_M^?1 versus T for T50°K indicate (Curie-Weiss behavior with C = 3.26 emu/mole, θ = -21.95°K, and μ_eff = 5.11.     

Magnetic field induced anomalous Core-Shell magnetic behavior in short-rod Co3O4

It is found that both spinel structure inversion and the Néel temperature of short-rod Co₃O₄ are dependent on the applied magnetic field. Spinel structure inversion induced by the applied field results in the change of uncompensated surface spins. Thus, the shell magnetic behavior of short-rod Co₃O₄ is also field-dependent, which shows ferrimagnetism (FIM) under the low field and antiferromagnetism (AFM) in a high field. This changing shell magnetic behavior leads to anomalous Core-Shell magnetic behavior, that Néel temperature (∼28 K) disappears under the low field and appears again in a high field.     

Antimony-121 Mössbauer spectral study of the Eu14MnSb11 and Yb14MnSb11 Zintl compounds

The antimony-121 M?ssbauer spectra of the Yb14MnSb11 and Eu14MnSb11 Zintl compounds have been measured between 2 or 5 and 300 K. The resulting three-dimensional arrays of the spectral counts, velocity, and temperature have been simultaneously fit with a minimum number of free parameters. These fits yield a 0 Kelvin transferred hyperfine field of 2.9(2) T, a Curie temperature of 57(3) K, and a M?ssbauer temperature of 182(2) K for Yb14MnSb11; in this case the transferred field arises solely from the ordering of Mn2+. Because Eu14MnSb11 has both Eu2+ and Mn2+ ions that are magnetically ordered, its antimony-121 M?ssbauer spectra are more complex and reveal two magnetic transitions, the first at 92(1) K resulting from the ordering of the Mn2+ ions and the second at 9.5(1.0) K resulting from the ordering of the Eu2+ ions; the corresponding 0 Kelvin transferred hyperfine fields are 1.3(1) and 3.7(1) T. The antimony-121 isomer shifts yield electronic configurations of 5s1.745p4.28 and 5s1.745p4.19 for the average antimony anion in Yb14MnSb11 and Eu14MnSb11, respectively.     

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.     

Presence of in-plane anisotropy and oscillatory magnetoresistive behavior in epitaxial SrRuO3 thin films with orthogonal equivalent axes

In-plane magnetic hysteresis measurements performed on thin films of SrRuO₃ (SRO) deposited on (001)-oriented SrTiO₃ substrates showed orthogonal equivalent axes. This finding, nevertheless, was not conclusive argument to discard the presence of in-plane anisotropy in these samples. Certainly, measurements of the in-plane magnetoresistance (MR) featured anisotropic behavior with a well-defined angular dependence. The observed 180° periodicity of the function MR(θ) corresponded to that expected for the standard anisotropic magnetoresistance phenomenon (AMR). On the other hand, the longitudinal MR (zero Lorentz force) and transverse MR (nonzero Lorentz force), recorded at low temperatures and magnetic fields, displayed positive MR with a relatively broad maximum for the first field ramp up to 4 T. For the subsequent field sweep down, MR was negative for all field orientations. The described behavior was symmetric upon reversal of the applied magnetic field leading to a strong hysteretic behavior of MR.     

Magnetocaloric effect and the heat capacity of ferrimagnetic nanosystems in magnetic fluids

The specific heat capacity of a magnetite-based magnetic fluid and changes in the magnetic part of the molar heat capacity of its magnetic phase in magnetic fields of 0–0.7 T were determined calorimetrically over the temperature range 288–353 K. The temperature dependence of changes in the magnetic part of entropy in an applied magnetic field was calculated. It was found that the field dependence of heat capacity had a maximum in fields of 0.3–0.4 T, and the temperature dependences of changes in the magnetic part of heat capacity ΔC _p (H) and entropy ΔS _m(H) had maxima at the magnetic phase transition temperature.     

Critical behavior and magnetocaloric effect in La0.67Ca0.33Mn1−xCrxO3 (x = 0.1, 0.25)

Universal behavior of the magnetocaloric effect along with structural and critical exponent analysis in mixed manganite La_0.67Ca_0.33Mn_1−xCr_xO₃ (x = 0.1, 0.25), [LCMCr_0.1 and LCMCr_0.25] exhibiting second order phase transition are investigated. Structural study using Reitveld refinement of XRD patterns indicates orthorhombic structure with Pnma space group. Modified Arrott plot method has been adopted to study the critical behavior of the compounds at their transition region, which gives values of β = 0.555(6), γ = 1.17(4) and δ = 2.7096(7) at T_C = 232.5 K for LCMCr_0.1 and β = 0.68 (1), γ = 1.09(3) and δ = 2.9362(4) at T_C = 202.5 K for LCMCr_0.25. The values are close to those expected for mean field ferromagnets with long range order. With increase in Cr content, the temperature corresponding to the maximum entropy change as well as the magnetic transition temperature gradually shifts to low temperatures. The maximum magnetic entropy change was found to be 3.5 J/kg K for x = 0.1 and 2.2 J/kg K for x = 0.25 for a field change of 5 T. The field dependence of the magnetic entropy change is also analyzed, which shows the power law dependence namely, ?S_M ∝ Hⁿ, n = 0.9086(5) at T_C = 232.5 K and n = 0.849(7) at T_C = 202.5 K for LCMCr_0.1 and LCMCr_0.25 respectively. Relative cooling power was found to be about 147 J/kg for LCMCr_0.1 and 88 J/kg for LCMCr_0.25. The field dependence of the relative cooling power for both the compounds shows a H^1+1/δ dependence with the δ values in agreement with the mean field model.     

Magnetic properties of FexV3−xS4 (0 ≤ x ≤ 2)

The magnetic susceptibility data of Fe_xV_3?xS₄ (0 ≤ x ≤ 2) are reported in the temperature range between 4.2 and 1300 K. The behavior of the susceptibility at high temperatures changes significantly at the composition boundary x = 1.0. The magnitude of the effective magnetic moment remains unchanged at 3.2 μ_B in the composition range x < 1.0. It decreases with increasing iron content in the range > 1.0, and rapidly decreases for x close to 2.0. The c lattice parameter varies in a manner analogous to the change in magnetic moment. These phenomena suggest that metallic bonding forms between metal layers and that it becomes stronger with increasing in x. The susceptibility measurements at low temperatures show that Fe_xV_3?xS₄ is basically antiferromagnetic, although some of the Fe_xV_3?xS₄ compounds become weakly ferromagnetic after cooling in a magnetic field. The origin of the weak ferromagnetism is briefly discussed.     

A neutron diffraction and 170Yb Mössbauer investigation of the perovskite ytterbium titanium oxide

A phase with the perovskite structure (Pbnm) and a composition YbTiO_2.95 has been prepared by a high-temperature carbothermic method. Neutron diffraction shows a colinear ferrimagnetic structure at 7 K with Yb and Ti moments antiparallel along the c-axis of the orthorhombic cell and an Yb moment of 1.8(3)μ_B. ¹⁷⁰Yb Mössbauer measurements find a more precise and accurate value of 2.0(1)μ_B from the maximum hyperfine field. From the temperature dependence of the hyperfine field a T_c = 42(1) K is found. The Yb sublattice magnetization below T_c follows a Brillouin function. At low temperature a distribution of hyperfine fields is observed which is attributed to a random distribution of defects surrounding the Yb sites. The magnetic structure is discussed in relation to possible values for the crystal field parameters, especially B²₀.     

Substitution and liquid quenching effects on magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of (Gd1-xTbx)12Co7

The influence of rapid quenching from the melt on the magnetic and magnetothermal properties of the (Gd_1-xTb_x)₁₂Co₇ samples has been investigated. The melt-spun (Gd_1-xTb_x)₁₂Co₇ alloys are observed to exhibit a ferromagnetic-like behavior and increased T_C values at low Tb concentration in comparison with crystalline counterparts. The amorphization is suggested to result in the appearance of a small magnetic moment on Co atoms in Gd-rich liquid-quenched alloys. In low magnetic fields, the melt-spun (Gd_1-xTb_x)₁₂Co₇ alloys with high Tb concentrations exhibit enhanced values of the isothermal entropy change and refrigerant capacity then the crystalline compounds of the same composition.     

Heat capacities and related thermal properties of DyNi5, HoNi5 and ErNi5 between 5 and 300 K

Heat capacity data and calculated thermodynamic functions are presented for DyNi₅, HoNi₅ and ErNi₅. λ-type thermal anomalies are noted at 12.0 K (DyNi₅), 4.1 K (HoNi₅) and 8.0 K (ErNi₅). Schottky-type anomalies are observed at higher temperatures. The λ and Schottky anomalies are ascribed to the destruction of ferromagnetic order and to crystal field excitation, respectively. A deficiency of magnetic entropy, compared to Rln(2J + 1), is noted corresponding roughly to Rln2. This suggests that the ground state in the ordered materials is a doublet. ErNi₅ is analyzed using a Hamiltonian containing terms representing the crystal field and magnetic interactions. The analysis shows that a doublet ground state can result with reasonable values of the crystal field parameters. The parameters are shown to be consistent with the heat capacity behavior of ErNi₅. Ordering temperatures are not proportional to the de Gennes function.     

Chemical bonding in EuTGe (T=Ni, Pd, Pt) and physical properties of EuPdGe

EuPdGe was prepared from the elements by reaction in a sealed tantalum tube in a high-frequency furnace. Magnetic susceptibility measurements show Curie-Weiss behavior above 60 K with an experimental magnetic moment of 8.0(1)μ_B/Eu indicating divalent europium. At low external fields antiferromagnetic ordering is observed at T_N=8.5(5) K. Magnetization measurements indicate a metamagnetic transition at a critical field of 1.5(2) T and a saturation magnetization of 6.4(1)μ_B/Eu at 5 K and 5.5 T. EuPdGe is a metallic conductor with a room-temperature value of 5000±500 μΩ cm for the specific resistivity. ¹⁵¹Eu Mössbauer spectroscopic experiments show a single europium site with an isomer shift of δ=−9.7(1) mm/s at 78 K. At 4.2 K full magnetic hyperfine field splitting with a hyperfine field of B=20.7(5) T is observed. Density functional calculations show the similarity of the electronic structures of EuPdGe and EuPtGe. T-Ge interactions (T=Pd, Pt) exist in both compounds. An ionic formula splitting Eu²⁺T⁰Ge²⁻ seems more appropriate than Eu²⁺T²⁺Ge⁴⁻ accounting for the bonding in both compounds. Geometry optimizations of EuTGe (T=Ni, Pt, Pd) show weak energy differences between the two structural types.     

Temperature evolution of structural and magnetic properties of stoichiometric LiCu2O2: Correlation of thermal expansion coefficient and magnetic order

Temperature-dependent crystallographic and magnetic studies on stoichiometric single crystals of LiCu₂O₂ are reported. The temperature dependence of the lattice parameters was extracted from X-ray powder diffractograms collected on crushed single crystals, from 12 K to 295 K. The magnetic properties are similar to earlier findings demonstrating antiferromagnetic ordering below 25 K. Evidence of magnetoelastic coupling is observed in the thermal expansion along the c-direction; not only at the low temperature antiferromagnetic transitions, but an anomalous behavior of the thermal expansion indicate magnetoelastic coupling also to the magnetic ordering related to a weak spontaneous magnetic moment appearing at 150 K. Ac-susceptibility measurements at different frequencies and superposed dc-fields are employed to further characterize this magnetic anomaly.     

Copper solubility and distribution in doped GaSb single crystals

For the GaSb single crystals doped with copper (grown using the Czochralski method without encapsulant in flowing atmosphere of hydrogen) the distribution coefficient of copper in GaSb,k _eff=0.0021±0.0006 was found and the copper solubility in GaSb was discussed. The region of copper solubility in GaSb was analyzed on the thermodynamic basis using chemical phase diagram in the Sb?Ga?Cu system. Due to a rather low solubility of copper, its excessive amount in GaSb caused probably an increase of the dislocation density at the end of the GaSb single crystals.