Effects of indium doping on the superconducting properties of YBa2Cu3Oy sintered compounds and thin films

We investigated the effects of indium doping on the superconducting properties of YBCO sintered samples and thin films. In₂O₃-doped YBCO and YBa₂Cu_3−xIn_xO_y sintered samples showed a gradual decrease in the critical temperature (T_c) with increasing indium content; however, a T_c value above 80 K was maintained even up to 30 vol.% addition and x = 0.4, respectively. Ba₃Cu₃In₄O₁₂ was detected by X-ray diffractometry and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy as a reaction product for both sintered samples. The normalized J_c under a magnetic field of 0.1 T showed a maximum at x = 0.3. Indium-doped YBCO films prepared by pulsed laser deposition showed a similar dependence of T_c on indium content as the sintered samples.     

Effect of Mn on the magnetic properties of Fe3B/Nd2Fe14B nanocomposites

The magnetic properties of Nd_4.5Fe_77−xMn_xB_18.5 (x=0, 1 and 2) nanocomposites prepared by the crystallization of amorphous precursors were investigated. Addition of Mn is found to decrease the crystallization temperature of the amorphous ribbons. The intrinsic coercivity _iH_c and maximum energy product (BH)_max increase from 2.6 kOe and 9.1 MGOe for x=0 to 3.1 kOe and 10.3 MGOe for x=1, respectively, and the remanence ratio M_r/M_s increases from 0.70 to 0.72. The effect of Mn on Curie temperature T_C and the thermal stability of M_r and _iH_c were also studied. ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectra have been recorded for x=0, 1 and 2 ribbons at room temperature and site preference of the Mn atoms in Fe₃B and Nd₂Fe₁₄B phases is discussed using the Mössbauer spectroscopy.     

Analysis of magnetic field dependent mobility in ferromagnetic Ga1−xMnxAs layers

The magneto-transport properties of ferromagnetic Ga_1−xMn_xAs epilayers with Mn mole fractions in the range of x≈2.2-4.4% were investigated through Hall effect measurements. The magnetic field-dependent Hall mobility for a metallic sample with x≈2.2% in the temperature range of T=0-300 K was analyzed by magnetic field-dependent mobility model including an activation energy of Mn acceptor level. This model provides outstanding fits to the measured data up to T=300 K. It was found that the acceptor levels with activation energies of 112 meV at B=0 Oe decreased to 99 meV at B=5 kOe in the ferromagnetic region. The decrease in acceptor activation energy was due to the spin splitting of the Mn acceptor level in the ferromagnetic region, and was responsible for increase in carrier concentration.     

Magnetic properties of Cr-Fe-Mn alloys

The magnetic behaviour of a Cr_80−xFe₂₀Mn_x alloy system with x=2, 7, 10, 13 and 22 has been investigated in the temperature range 2-400 K through measurements of magnetization, electrical resistivity, magnetoresistivity, specific heat and thermal expansion. The temperature vs. Mn concentration magnetic phase diagram of the system is rich in magnetic behaviour with ferromagnetic (FM), antiferromagnetic (AFM) and paramagnetic phase regions and a spin-glass (SG) region at the lowest temperatures. Phase transition temperatures amongst these different magnetic phases could be identified from well-defined anomalies of magnetic origin that are displayed by graphs of the above-mentioned physical properties as a function of temperature. The time relaxation of the thermoremanent, isothermal remanent and field-cooled magnetizations below and above the SG freezing temperature show unusual aspects. These relaxations do not follow the usual superposition principle that is expected for typical SG materials. Negative giant magetoresistance (GMR) is observed in the alloys at 4 K. The GMR initially increases sharply on increasing the Mn content in the alloy system, followed by a tendency towards a saturation negative value for concentrations of more than about 10 at% Mn. Low-temperature plots of C_p/T vs. T², where C_p is the specific heat, present anomalous behaviour for alloys with x=2, 10 and 22. For x=2 the plot shows an upturn at the lowest temperatures that changes over to a prominent downturn for x=10 and 22. This behaviour is attributed to Fe concentration fluctuations in the alloys, confirming the theoretical model of Matthews.     

Magnetism in Zn1−xMnxO crystal prepared by hydrothermal method

Crystal Zn_1−xMn_xO magnetic semiconductors have been obtained by using a hydrothermal method for the first time at temperature of 703 K with substituent fraction ranging from x=0 to 0.04. X-ray diffraction and optical absorption measurements provide evidence for the locating at Zn site of Mn ion in ZnO crystals. The non-monotonic variation of band gap indicates the short-ranged interactions of sp-d electrons. However, no evidence of ferromagnetism is found in these systems down to T=2 K. The magnetization is found to be contributed from both free spins and spins associated with antiferromagnetic clusters. The antiferromagnetism is confirmed by fitting a Curie-Weiss function.     

Iron isotope effect on Tc in optimally-doped (Ba,K)Fe2As2 (Tc = 38 K) and SmFeAsO1−y (Tc = 54 K) superconductors

We report the iron isotope effect on a transition temperature (T_c) in an optimally-doped (Ba,K)Fe₂As₂ (T_c = 38 K) and SmFeAsO_1−y (T_c = 54 K) superconductors. In order to obtain the reliable isotope shift in T_c, twin samples with different iron isotope mass are synthesized in the same conditions (simultaneously) under high-pressure. We have found that (Ba,K)Fe₂As₂ shows an inverse iron isotope effect α_Fe = −0.18 ± 0.03 while SmFeAsO_1−y shows a small iron isotope effect α_Fe = −0.02 ± 0.01, where the isotope exponent α is defined by T_c ∼ M^−α (M is the isotopic mass). The results show that α_Fe changes in the iron-based superconductors depending on the system. The distinct iron isotope effects imply the exotic coupling mechanism in the iron-based superconductors.     

Structural and magnetic properties of Mg(In2−xMnx)O4 system

We synthesized the Mn-doped Mg(In_2−xMn_x)O₄ oxides with 0.03?x?0.55 using a solid-state reaction method. The X-ray diffraction patterns of the samples were in a good agreement with that of a distorted orthorhombic spinel phase. Their lattice parameters and unit-cell volumes decrease with x due to the substitution of the smaller Mn³⁺ ions to the larger In³⁺ ions. The undoped MgIn₂O₄ oxide presents diamagnetic signals for 5 K?T?300 K. The M(H) at T=300 K reveals a fairly negative-sloped linear relationship. Neither magnetic hysteresis nor saturation behavior was observed in this parent sample. For the Mn-doped samples, however, positive magnetization were observed between 5 and 300 K even if the x value is as low as 0.03. The mass susceptibility enhances with Mn content and it reaches the highest value of 1.4×10⁻³ emu/g Oe (at T=300 K) at x=0.45. Furthermore, the Mn-doped oxides with x=0.06 and 0.2, respectively, exhibit nonlinear magnetization curves and small hysteretic loops in low magnetic fields. Susceptibilities of the Mn-doped samples are much higher than those of MnO₂, Mn₂O₃ oxides, and Mn metals. These results show that the oxides have potential to be magnetic semiconductors.     

The effect of different temperature annealing on phase relation of LaFe11.5Si1.5 and the magnetocaloric effects of La0.8Ce0.2Fe11.5−xCoxSi1.5 alloys

The phase relation of LaFe_11.5Si_1.5 alloys annealed at different high-temperature from 1223 K (5 h) to 1673 K (0.5 h) has been studied. The powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns show that large amount of 1:13 phase begins to form in the matrix alloy consisting of α-Fe and LaFeSi phases when the annealing temperature is 1423 K. In the temperature range from 1423  to 1523 K, α-Fe and LaFeSi phases rapidly decrease to form 1:13 phase, and LaFeSi phase is rarely observed in the XRD pattern of LaFe_11.5Si_1.5 alloy annealed at 1523 K. With annealing temperature increasing from 1573  to 1673 K, the LaFeSi phase is detected again in the LaFe_11.5Si_1.5 alloy, and there is La₅Si₃ phase when the annealing temperature reaches 1673 K. There almost is no change in the XRD patterns of LaFe_11.5Si_1.5 alloys annealed at 1523 K for 3-5 h. According to this result, the La_0.8Ce_0.2Fe_11.5−xCo_xSi_1.5 (0≤×≤0.7) alloys are annealed at 1523 K (3 h). The analysis of XRD patterns shows that La_0.8Ce_0.2Fe_11.5xCo_xSi_1.5 alloys consist of the NaZn₁₃-type main phase and α-Fe impurity phase. With the increase of Co content from x=0 to 0.7, the Curie temperature T_C increases from 180 to 266 K. Because the increase of Co content can weaken the itinerant electron metamagnetic transition, the order of the magnetic transition at T_C changes from first to second-order between x=0.3 and 0.5. Although the magnetic entropy change decreases from 34.9 to 6.8 J/kg K with increasing Co concentration at a low magnetic field of 0-2 T, the thermal and magnetic hysteresis loss reduces remarkably, which is very important for the magnetic refrigerant near room temperature.     

Structural and electrical characterization of SxSe100−x thin films

Thin films of samples of the glassy S_xSe_100−x system with 0 ≤ x ≤ 7.28 have been prepared by thermal evaporation technique at room temperature (300 K). X-ray investigations show that the structure of pure selenium (Se) does change seriously by the addition of small amount of sulphur S ≤7.28%. The lattice parameters were determined as a function of sulphur content. Results of differential thermal analysis (DTA) of the glassy compositions of the system S_xSe_100−x were discussed. The characteristic temperatures (T_g, T_c and T_m) were evaluated. Dark electrical resistivities, ρ, of S_xSe_100−x thin films with different thicknesses from 100 to 500 nm, were measured in the temperature range from 300 to 423 K. Two distinct linear parts with different activation energies were observed. The variation of electrical resistivity of examined compositions has been discussed as a function of the film thickness, temperature and the sulphur content. The application of Mott model for the phonon assisted hopping of small polarons gave the same two activation energies obtained from the resistivity temperature calculations.     

Double metal-insulator peaks and effect of Sm substitution on magnetic and transport properties of hole-doped La0.85Ag0.15MnO3

La_0.85−xSm_xAg_0.15MnO₃ (x=0−0.2) ceramics were prepared using the conventional solid-state synthesis method to investigate the effect of Sm³⁺ substitution on magnetic and electrical transport properties. Magnetic susceptibility versus temperature measurements showed all samples exhibit ferromagnetic to paramagnetic transition with Curie temperature, T_c decreasing from 283 K (x=0) to 164 K (x=0.2) with increasing Sm³⁺. The observed slope in susceptibility, χ′ versus temperature curves below T_c indicates the possible presence of FM and AFM phases in the metallic region. In addition, a deviation from the Curie-Weiss law above T_c in 1/χ′ versus T curves indicates the existence of a Griffith's phase in the x=0.05−0.2 samples due to the Sm³⁺ ion substitution. The Griffith temperature, T_G was found to decrease from 295 K (x=0.05) to 229 K (x=0.2). Electrical resistivity measurements of the samples in zero field showed transition from metallic behavior to insulating behavior as the temperature was increased. For x=0, two metal-insulator, MI transition peaks were observed at T_p1=282 K and at T_p2=250 K. Both peaks shifted to lower temperatures with the increase in Sm³⁺. The relative resistivity of the first peak to the second peak decreases with increasing Sm³⁺ for x>0.05 while at x=0.2 the T_p1 peak was strongly suppressed. Magnetoresistance, MR was observed to weaken with Sm³⁺ substitution. The metallic region of the ρ(T) curve of the x=0−0.15 samples was fitted to the model of electron-electron and electron-magnon scattering while the insulating region was fitted to the variable range hopping, VRH model. The resistivity behavior indicated that the substitution of Sm³⁺ weakened the double exchange process and enhanced the Jahn-Teller effect. Our results indicated that the T_p1 peak is strongly related to the double-exchange mechanism while the T_p2 peak is suggested to originate from magnetic inhomogeneity.     

Fabrication of FeSe1−x superconducting films with bulk properties

We have fabricated high-quality FeSe_1−x superconducting films with a bulk T_c of 11–12 K on different substrates, Al₂O₃(0 0 0 1), SrTiO₃(1 0 0), MgO(1 0 0), and LaAlO₃(1 0 0), by using a pulsed laser deposition technique. All the films were grown at a high substrate temperature of 610 °C, and were preferentially oriented along the (1 0 1) direction, the latter being to be a key to fabricating of FeSe_1−x superconducting thin films with high T_c. According to the energy dispersive spectroscopy data, the Fe:Se composition ratio was 1:0.90 ± 0.02. The FeSe_1−x film grown on a SrTiO₃ substrate showed the best quality with a high upper critical magnetic field [H_c2(0)] of 56 T.     

Effect of pressure and magnetic field on bilayer La1.25Sr1.75Mn2O7 single crystal

We report the temperature dependence of susceptibility for various pressures, magnetic fields and constant magnetic field of 5 T with various pressures on La_2−2xSr_1+2xMn₂O₇ single crystal to understand the effectiveness of pressure and magnetic field in altering the magnetic properties. We find that the Curie temperature, T_c, increases under pressure (dT_c/dP=10.9 K/GPa) and it indicates the enhancement of ferromagnetic phase under pressure up to 2 GPa. The magnetic field dependence of T_c is about 26 K for 3 T. The combined effect of pressure and constant magnetic field (5 T) shows dT_c/dP=11.3 K/GPa and the peak structure is suppressed and broadened. The application of magnetic field of 5 T realizes 3D spin ordered state below T_c at atmospheric pressure. Both peak structure in χ_c and 3D spin ordered state are suppressed, and changes to 2D-like spin ordered state by increase of pressure. These results reveal that the pressure and the magnetic field are more competitive in altering the magnetic properties of bilayer manganite La_1.25Sr_1.75Mn₂O₇ single crystal.     

Superconductivity in Sr and Co co-doped PrFeAsO

Polycrystalline Sr and Co co-doped superconducting oxypnictides Pr_1−ySr_yFe_1−xCo_xAsO were synthesized by solid state reaction method, and superconductivity was investigated by measuring resistivity, magnetic susceptibility and thermopower. In the PrFe_1−xCo_xAsO samples with only Co doping, T_c reaches a maximum of 16 K at x=0.075-0.1, and the variation of T_c with Co content (x) is dome-shaped, consistent with the other Co-doped 1 1 1 1 phase systems such as LaFe_1−xCo_xAsO and SmFe_1−xCo_xAsO. In the Co and Sr co-doped Pr_0.8Sr_0.2Fe_1−xCo_xAsO system, T_c reaches a maximum of about 16 K at x=0.15, and the T_c‐x dome shifts to higher Co content in the phase diagram of T_c versus Co content (x). Our result indicates that Sr doping effectively induces hole-type charge carriers in the PrFeAsO system and the disorder caused by Sr and Co dopants has little effect on T_c. The thermopower data confirms that Sr dopant is hole-type and Co dopant is electron-type. The shift of T_c‐x dome to higher Co content caused by Sr doping implies that the Sr dopant can compensate for the Co doping effect. The results suggest that there could be a universal dependence of T_c on charge carrier density in both hole-type and electron-type oxypnictide superconductors.     

Absence of magnetic ordering in low dimensional mixed magnetic Mn1−xNixCl2·H2O

A new mixed magnet, Mn_1−xNi_xCl₂·H₂O, is examined by dc magnetization and susceptibility measurements across the entire composition range. The pure components are quasi-one-dimensional Heisenberg antiferromagnets ordering at 2.17 K (Mn) and 5.6₅ K (Ni) due to weaker interchain exchange supplementing the dominant exchange along MCl₂MCl₂M… chemical and structural chains. High temperature magnetic susceptibilities yield Curie and Weiss constants in χ_M=C/(T−θ). C(x) is linear but θ(x) displays curvature, which is analyzed to show that unlike-ion exchange is ferromagnetic and similar in size to like-ion. Most notable is the absence of antiferromagnetic susceptibility maxima down to 1.6 K from x=0.10 to 0.95. For x=0.05 a susceptibility maximum appears, with T_max almost 20% lower than in the pure Mn component but T_c reduced by 2%. The size of the susceptibility is enhanced by admixture, the effect of disrupted antiferromagnetic tendencies. Magnetization isotherms evolve with composition. Larger values of magnetization, under the same measuring conditions, occur for mixtures than for pure components, consistent with frustration, which weakens antiferromagnetic alignment tendencies. The competing ferromagnetic (Ni) and antiferromagnetic (Mn) intrachain interactions, along with disorder and low dimensional characteristics, presumably lead to the absence of magnetic order over a remarkably broad composition range.     

Gigantic uniaxial pressure effect in single crystals of iron-based superconductors

In order to elucidate the anisotropic pressure effect on superconductivity in an iron-based superconductor, magnetization measurements have been performed in Ba(Fe_0.92Co_0.08)₂As₂ single crystals under uniaxial pressures applied along the c-axis. Gigantic T_c suppression, dT_c/dP_//c = −15 K/GPa, was observed when the anisotropic deformation with the a-expansion and c-compression was induced by the c-pressure, which should be compared with dT_c/dP < +1 K/GPa in the isotropic pressure case. This suggests that the a-axis (c-axis) compression has a positive (negative) contribution to T_c.     

Magnetostriction, Curie temperature and microstructure of Tb0.29(Dy1−xPrx)0.71Fe1.97 oriented alloys

The Tb_0.29(Dy_1−xPr_x)_0.71Fe_1.97 (x=0, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3) alloys were prepared by directional solidification method. The orientation, magnetostriction λ, Curie temperature T_c and microstructure of alloys were characterized by XRD, standard resistant strain gauge technique, VSM and SEM-EDS. The results reveal that the alloys have a preferred orientation of 〈1 1 0〉 and 〈1 1 3〉 direction when x>0. With the increase in Pr content, the T_c of alloys decreases gradually and the non-cubic phase appears, resulting in the decline of λ dramatically, from 1935.2×10⁻⁶ for x=0 to 695.9×10⁻⁶ for x=0.3 at a compressive stress of 6 MPa and a magnetic field of H=240 kA m⁻¹.     

Synthesis and magnetic properties of La-substituted M-type Sr hexaferrites

Single-phase M-type hexagonal ferrites Sr_1−xLa_xFe₁₂O₁₉ (0≤x≤1) were prepared by a ceramic route. The stability limits of the ferrite phases were determined with a combination of various microscopy techniques, electron-probe micro-analysis, powder X-ray diffraction and thermal analysis. SrFe₁₂O₁₉ (x=0) is stable up to 1420 °C, whereas LaFe₁₂O₁₉ (x=1) exists between 1360 and 1400 °C only. The lattice parameters of Sr_1−xLa_xFe₁₂O₁₉ exhibit a linear variation with x, i.e. a₀ slightly increases and c₀ decreases with x, leading to a decrease of the unit cell volume with x. The saturation magnetization at T=5 K decreases with increasing La concentration. Room temperature Mössbauer analysis shows that the Fe³⁺/Fe²⁺ valence change occurs in the 2a sites for the whole composition range.     

Low temperature synthesis and superconducting properties of polycrystalline T′-(La,Sm)2CuO4

La_2−xSm_xCuO_4+δ with the Nd₂CuO₄ structure was synthesized by precipitation from fused alkaline hydroxide, CsOH, at 400 °C. The as-sintered polycrystalline samples showed no diamagnetic signal, but after post-annealing in vacuum of ≈10⁻⁸ atm at 650–700 °C, the samples with x = 0.1 and 0.3 exhibited superconductivity at T_c on = 25 K. The volume fraction of the superconducting phase estimated from the slope of the Zero-Field-Cooled magnetization data was over 30% for x = 0.3, which confirmed that the La_1.7Sm_0.3CuO_4+δ is a bulk superconductor.     

Magnetic properties and room-temperature magnetocaloric effect in the doped antipervoskite compounds Ga1−xAlxCMn3 (0≤x≤0.15)

We report the effects of Al doping on the structure, magnetic properties, and magnetocaloric effect of antiperovskite compounds Ga_1−xAl_xCMn₃ (0≤x≤0.15). Partial substitutions of Al for Ga enhance the Curie temperature (from 250 K for x=0.0 to 312 K for x=0.15) and the saturation magnetization. On increasing the doping level x, the maximum values of the magnetic entropy change (−ΔS_M) decreases while the temperature span of −ΔS_M vs. T plot broadens. Furthermore, the relative cooling power (RCP) is also studied. For 20 kOe, the RCP value tends to saturate at a high doping level (for x=0.12, 119 J/kg at 296 K). However, at 45 kOe, the RCP value increases quickly with increasing x (for x=0.15, 293 J/kg at 312 K). Considering the relatively large RCP and inexpensive raw materials, Ga_1−xAl_xCMn₃ may be alternative candidates for room-temperature magnetic refrigeration.     

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.