Magnetically two-phase state in Eu1−x AxMnO3 (A=Ca, Sr)

It is observed that low-temperature magnetic properties (dependence of the magnetization on the cooling conditions and the presence of a maximum in the initial magnetic susceptibility) of Eu_{1− x} A_xMnO₃ (A=Ca, Sr; x=0,0.3) samples are similar to those of spin glasses. However, there are also substantial differences: The magnetization depends on the cooling conditions right up to the maximum measurement fields H=45 kOe, and the temperature of T _N of the maximum of the initial magnetic susceptibility is independent of the frequency of the ac magnetic field in which the susceptibility is measured. The magnetization isotherms for T<T _N are a superposition of a linear part, characteristic for an antiferromagnet, and a small spontaneous part. For compositions containing Sr a maximum of the resistivity ρ (ρ_max∼10⁸ Ω ·cm) is observed near T _N; in a 120 kOe magnetic field this maximum is lowered by four orders of magnitude and the temperature of the maximum is two times higher. In compositions with x=0.3 the paramagnetic Curie point is much higher than for the composition with x=0: θ=110 K (A=Ca), 175 K (A=Sr), and −100 K (x=0). These characteristic features of the magnetic and electric properties are explained by the existence of a magnetically two-phase state in this system, consisting of ferromagnetic clusters, in which the charge carriers are concentrated, embedded in an insulating antiferromagnetic matrix. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 69, No. 5, 375–380 (10 March 1999)     

Dielectric and piezoelectric properties of (1−x)Ba0.7Sr0.3TiO3−xBa0.7Ca0.3TiO3 perovskites

Dielectric and piezoelectric properties of (1?x)Ba_0.7Sr_0.3TiO₃?xBa_0.7Ca_0.3TiO₃ (BST?xBCT) (x=0.2–0.9) perovskite ceramics have been investigated. BCT has fully incorporated into BST lattice, forming a complete perovskite solid solution, whose lattice constant χ decreases almost linearly with increase in x from 0.2 to 0.4, while showing an anomalous expansion at 0.4<x≤0.6. This, together with the deviation of tetragonal–orthorhombic phase transition temperature (T_O–T) from the linear relation T_O–T (K)=?103.7x+239.3 at x=0.5, suggests that a small amount of Ca²⁺ has substituted for Ti⁴⁺. Curie temperature T_C increases linearly with increase in x from 0.2 to 0.9, which is mainly contributed to the increase of the Ba/Sr ratio. The calculated degree of relaxation (γ) is in the range of 1.41–1.53, indicating that the BST–xBCT ceramics are ferroelectric materials with diffuse phase transition. Strain and piezoelectric constant (d₃₃) decrease with increasing x, whereas planar electromechanical coefficient (k_p) reaches a maximum (17.0%) at x=0.6.     

Modelling of structural domains and elastic strain calculation in rhombohedral La1−x Sr x MnO3 films on (110) SrTiO3

As reported in the literature, structural domains in (110) oriented rhombohedral La_{1? x} Sr _x MnO₃ (LSMO) films on (110) SrTiO₃ show a pattern with alternating domain widths and inclined domain walls. An appropriate one-dimensional periodic domain model was developed and the non-uniform strain field in a coherently grown film was calculated by applying the coherency-defect approach. The strain is sharply peaked at the junction of the domain walls and the film/substrate interface. The dependence of the equilibrium domain-width ratio and domain-pattern period on film thickness was determined by minimizing the sum of elastic and domain-wall energies. The proposed domain structure can be formed only in a certain range of the film's crystal-structure data compared to the substrate. Corresponding composition-dependent structure data of LSMO are compiled.     

Heat capacity and the magnetocaloric effect in Pr0.6Sr0.4Mn1–x Fe x O3 manganite

The heat capacity and the magnetocaloric effect of Pr_0.6Sr_0.4Mn_1–xFe_xO₃(x = 0 and 0.1) manganite have been studied in the temperature range 80–350 K and magnetic fields to 18 kOe. The magnetocaloric effect is estimated using two independent methods: the method of magnetic field modulation (direct method) and from the data on the heat capacity in magnetic field and without magnetic field (indirect method). The substitution of Fe atoms for Mn atoms (x = 0.1) shifts T _C by 167 K to lower temperatures; in this case, the magnetocaloric effect (MCE) is changed insignificantly in magnetic field 18 kOe with ΔS _M = 2.05 and 2.31 J/kg K for x = 0 and 0.10, respectively.

     

The Properties of xBiFeO3–(1 – x)SrTiO3 (x = 0.2–1.0; Δx = 0.1) Solid Solutions: Mössbauer Studies

Physics of the Solid State - The magnetic structure and phase transition in xBiFeO3–(1 – x)SrTiO3 solid solutions, where x is from 0.2 to 1.0 with a step of 0.1, are studied...     

The influence of disorder on magnetocaloric effect and the order of transition in ferromagnetic manganite (La1−x Nd x )2/3(Ca1−y Sr y )1/3MnO3

Magnetocaloric effect and order of transition in (La_1?x Nd _x )_2/3(Ca_1?y Sr _y )_1/3MnO₃, prepared by conventional solid-state reaction, have been investigated. Using Banerjee criterion, we demonstrate first-order transition for (J1) and (J2 ) as well as second-order transition for (J3 ), (J4 ), and (J5 ) samples. The ΔS _M ^max is ranging between 9.18 Jkg^?1 K^?1 and 4.87 when Nd and Sr content changes leading to relative cooling power (RCP) varying between 330 and 229.35 J/kg. Both ΔS _M ^max and the RCP are found sensitive to the disorder σ ². The universal behavior obtained from ΔS variation curves confirmed the first-order transition for (J1) and (J2 ) samples and second-order transition for (J3), (J4), and (J5 ) samples obtained by Banerjee criterion. All samples with second-order phase transition exhibit inhomogeneous character estimated from local exponent n.     

μSr and vortex pinning in Bi2Sr2Ca1−x Gd x )Cu2O y

We present transverse fieldSR and bulk magnetisation studies on powders of Bi₂Sr₂(Ca_1{itxGd _x )Cu₂O _y for 0x<0.5. We have found that the effective pinning decreases rapidly withx even for values ofx for whichT _c remains unchanged. We have interpreted this decrease in terms of changes in _ab (obtained fromSR) which cause a decrease in vortex-vortex interactions. The field distribution spectra in these superconductors have been obtained using a maximum entropy analysis and are found to agree with the calculations by Harshmanet al.     

Magnetoresistance effect in A 2(FeMo)Ox double perovskites (A = Sr, Ca; 5.90≤x≤6.05)

The dependences of magnetic, electric, and magnetotransport properties on oxygen non stoichiometry were investigated in compounds of Ca₂(FeMo)O_x and Sr₂(FeMo)O_x (5.90≤x≤6.05). The regular trends in behavior of the magnetization, resistance, and magnetoresistance of samples of these series are determined. It is established that the magnetoresistance is composed of two parts that appear as a result of magnetic ordering in grain-boundary layers and of the intergrain transport of spin-polarized charge carriers. The electronic transport in the samples is assumed to be governed by percolation processes between grains which have a metallic type of conductivity and are separated by insulating spacers.     

Synthesis and characterization of nanostructured (Pb1− x Sr x )TiO3 thin films by a modified chemical route

The coating solutions of nanostructured (Pb_{1– x} Sr _x )TiO₃ (PST) thin films have been prepared by the sol–gel combined metallo-organic decomposition method. The coating solutions were deposited on Pt/Ti/SiO₂/Si substrates using a spin-coating technique with spinning speed of 4300 rpm and annealed at 650°C. The effect of Sr content in reducing the grain size and tetragonal distortion of PST films has been studied. The optimum conditions for crystalline phase formation in the films have been analyzed by thermogravimetric, differential thermal analysis and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The phase and microstructure of the films were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The XRD pattern shows that the PST thin films are crystallized into tetragonal structures without any impurity phase and the distortion ratio reduces with increasing Sr concentration. The AFM results indicate an increase in grain size with increasing annealing temperature of the film and reduction in grain size with increasing Sr concentration.     

Low-temperature magnetic ordering in the perovskites Pr1−xAxCoO3 (A=Ca,Sr)

The magnetic and electrical properties of polycrystalline Pr_1?xA_xCoO₃ cobaltites with A=Ca, Sr and 0≤x≤0.5 were studied in the temperature range 4 K≤T≤1000 K and field up to 7 T. The X-ray analyses show the presence of only one phase having monoclinic or orthorhombic symmetry. The magnetic measurements indicate that the Ca-doped samples have at low temperatures, similar properties to the frustrated magnetic materials. PrCoO₃ is a paramagnetic insulator in the range from 4 to 1000 K. The Sr-doped cobaltites exhibit two phase transitions: a paramagnetic–ferromagnetic (or magnetic phase separated state) phase transition at about 240 K and a second one at about 100 K. The magnetic measurements suggest the presence of magnetic clusters and a change in the nature of magnetic coupling between Co ions at low temperatures. A semiconducting type behavior and high negative magnetoresistance was found for the Ca-doped samples, while the Sr-doped ones were metallic and with negligible magnetoresistance. The results are analyzed in the frame of a phase separation scenario in the presence of the spin-state transitions of Co ions.     

Composition-dependent ferroelectric properties of Ba1− x Sr x TiO3 ceramics

Pure and homogeneous nanopowders of Ba_{1? x} Sr _x TiO₃ with compositions x?=?0, 0.10, 0.20, 0.25, 0.30 and 0.35 were prepared by a polymerized complex method based on the Pechini-type reaction route, wherein mixed solutions of citric acid, ethylene glycol, titanium isopropoxide, barium carbonate and strontium carbonate were polymerized to form transparent resins used as precursors for the final oxide powders. X-ray diffraction data indicated the formation of tetragonal BaTiO₃ and cubic (Ba,?Sr)TiO₃ solid solutions, free from secondary phases. Ceramics with relative densities of 85–93% were obtained after sintering for 3?h at 1300°C and 1350°C, respectively. The Sr content influences the microstructure of the ceramic samples and their ferroelectric characteristics. The P(E) loops are strongly composition-dependent, with reducing the remnant polarization and coercive fields with increasing the Sr addition. The First Order Reversal Curve (FORC) analysis is used for describing the local switching properties and the ac-tunability characteristics. The maximum of the FORC distribution is located at low fields, meaning that small fields are necessary to switch the large majority of the domains of these systems. The tunability determined in the FORC experiment depends not only on the actual field, but also on the reversal field. For two compositions, higher FORC tunability at room temperature was found for the sample closer to its ferro-para phase transition. This result was interpreted in relationship with the domain walls mobility, which is higher for the ferroelectric sample close to its ferro-para phase transition.     

Lattice,electrical, and magnetic effects in lanthanum manganites La1−x Sr x MnO3 (x = 0.125, 0.150, 0.175)

The temperature dependences of the velocities of transverse and longitudinal hypersound in lanthanum strontium manganites of the composition La_1−x Sr _x MnO₃ (x = 0.125, 0.150, 0.175) have been measured at frequencies of 0.5–0.7 GHz. The structural phase transitions have been revealed, and their positions have been confirmed by data on the electrical resistance and magnetic measurements performed using the same samples. The results obtained have been analyzed in the framework of the model of competing Jahn-Teller distortions and magnetic ordering. The anomalies observed in the behavior of the velocities of longitudinal hypersound have been attributed to the local Jahn-Teller distortions, and their suppression due to the magnetic ordering has been considered a possible factor responsible for the colossal magnetoresistance.     

Ionic and electronic conductivity in CaTi1−xFexO3−δ (x=0.1–0.3)

Electrical conductivity measurements on CaTi_1?xFe_xO_3?δ (x=0.1, 0.2, 0.3) were performed on polycrystalline pressed and sintered tablets using the van der Pauw four point method in controlled atmospheres. The results were interpreted to reflect n-type, ionic and p-type conductivity at different oxygen partial pressures. An increasing iron content increases the number of oxygen vacancies and increases the ionic conductivity at high temperatures, but also increases the tendency of ordering, which suppresses the ionic conductivity at more moderate temperatures. These findings are in accordance with the phase diagram of the system CaTiO₃-CaFeO_2.5 based on X-ray and Mössbauer studies.     

Cluster glass-like behavior of the diluted antiferromagnet Fe x Mg1−x TiO3 (x=0.2,x=0.3)

A diluted antiferromagnet Fe _x Mg_1–x TiO₃ has been shown to behave as a spin glass (x=0.2) and a reentrant spin glass (x=0.3) near the Fe percolation concentrationx 0.25. In order to obtain microscopic information on these samples, we performed Mössbauer measurements. At considerably higher temperatures than the transition temperatures, magnetically broadened spectra appear superimposed upon the paramagnetic doublets. A remarkable feature is that the intensity of the magnetic spectra increases accompanying the decrease of their linewidth. This behavior can be ascribed to the gradual slow-down of fluctuations of the antiferromagnetic clusters formed at high temperatures. To investigate the temperature variations of the relaxation time of the clusters, we analyzed the Mössbauer spectra using the method formulated by Blume. It has been shown that becomes long with decreasing temperature and the rate of the slow-down of is hastened aroundT _SG andT _N.     

Experimental evidences of magnetic two-phase state in Eu1−xAxMnO3 (A = Ca,Sr)

For insulating Eu_1−xA_xMnO₃ (A = Ca, Sr; x = 0, 0.3) ceramics the magnetic properties depend on the thermomagnetic history of the sample and the maximum of initial magnetic susceptibility is located at T=T_N, being independent of the AC field frequency. Magnetization isotherms are the superposition of the linear part and spontaneous magnetization. The maximum of electrical resistivity and colossal magnetoresistance are observed in the T_N region. These properties are explained by the magnetic two-phase state.