Study of the magnetic and calorimetric properties of (U1−xRx)Cu5Al (R=La and Y)

We have investigated the magnetic and thermodynamic properties of the (U_1−xR_x)Cu₅Al (R=La and Y) series. The results show a quick decrease of T_N for both La and Y substitutions. For the Y series with concentration between 0.3≤x≤0.4, the temperature dependence of the specific heat and magnetic susceptibility below 10 K are consistent with a non-Fermi-liquid regime.     

The magnetic structure of the compound Ho5Sb3

We have investigated the magnetic behavior of Ho₅Sb₃ compound (Mn₅Si₃-type, hexagonal; a=0.8865(1) nm, c=0.6232(1) nm, as derived from X-ray Guinier powder pattern) by using the techniques of magnetization, electrical resistivity, heat capacity and neutron diffraction. We find that Ho₅Sb₃ exhibits a ferrimagnetic type (Ferrimagnet I) ordering below 60 K with propagation vectors K₀=[0, 0, 1] and K₁=[±K_x, 0, 0]. Below 40 K, the thermal variation of magnetic reflections and the appearance of an additional magnetic component with propagation vector K₂=[0, 1/2, 0] show the onset of an antiferromagnetic type of ordering in the magnetic structure; which evolves into yet another ferrimagnetic structure (Ferrimagnet II) as the temperature is lowered down to 2 K. The magnetic moments of the Ho atoms at the (4d) and (6g) sites with magnitudes of nearly 7.4 and 6.3 μ_B at 2 K, respectively, are inclined approximately at 70° to the c-axis.     

Thermal and magnetothermal properties of La0.5Pr0.5Mn2Si2

The thermal and magnetothermal properties of La_0.5Pr_0.5Mn₂Si₂ and isostructural LaFe₂Si₂ intermetallic compounds in the temperature range 4.5-303 K are reported with and without applied magnetic field. The electronic, lattice, and magnetic contributions to the heat capacity of La_0.5Pr_0.5Mn₂Si₂ are determined and analyzed. We have determined and from heat capacity experiments; the values are in line with those from the magnetization measurements. We conclude that in order to observe the anomaly in the heat capacity data around in the system, the transition around should occur in a narrow temperature interval.     

The magnetic behaviour of CePd3 at low temperatures

The susceptibility of samples of CePd_3±x (x=0.0, 0.1) shows an upturn at low temperatures. Magnetization measurements in high magnetic fields strongly indicate that this behaviour is intrinsic to CePd₃ and not due to the spurious presence of magnetic impurities.     

Thermal expansion of La3S4 at low temperatures

The thermal expansion of the superconductor La₃S₄ has been investigated on a single crystal by a capacitive method between 1.6 and 14 K. The relative length change shows a well pronounced second order phase transformation near 8.05 K, which is caused by the superconducting transition. From the calculated linear thermal expansion coefficient we determine the pressure coefficient of the transition temperature and of the thermodynamic critical field as well as the thermodynamic critical field itself. Furthermore we estimate the electronic, phononic and total Grüneisen parameters. These parameters have been used to discuss on the basis of the McMillan equation the reason for the increase of the transition temperature under pressure.     

Magnetic properties of off-stoichiometric R2Co3Zn14 (R=Y,Gd) single crystals

Single crystal X-ray diffraction data indicate that the R₂Co₃Zn₁₄ (R=Gd, Y) phase crystallizes non-stoichiometrically with a mixed occupancy of Co/Zn atoms on the 12-coordinated transition metal site and one of the three zinc sites. The crystals are rhombohedral with R-3m space group. Magnetization measurements provide no evidence of localized 3d electron moment in Y₂Co_2.3Zn_14.7 which is non-magnetic down to 1.8 K. Thermodynamic and transport measurements on two Gd₂Co_3+xZn_14−x crystals reveal that the extra cobalt influences temperature below which the samples enter into an antiferromagnetic state: T_N=31.5(3) K for Gd₂Co₃Zn₁₄ and 28(1) K for Gd₂Co_4.2Zn_12.8. A lower magnetic ordering temperature of T_mag=6.0(2) K is common in both Gd samples.     

Magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of Gd1−xScxNi2 solid solutions

Magnetic and heat capacity measurements have been carried out on the polycrystalline Gd_1−xSc_xNi₂ solid solutions (0≤x≤1), which crystallize in the cubic C15 Laves phases superstructure (space group F4?3m). These solid solutions are ferromagnetic with a Curie temperature below 76 K. Their Curie temperature decreases from 75.4 K for GdNi₂ to 13.6 K for Gd_0.2Sc_0.8Ni₂. At high temperatures, all solid solutions, except ScNi₂, are Curie-Weiss paramagnets. The Debye temperature as well as phonon, conduction electron and magnetic contributions to the heat capacity have been determined from heat capacity measurements. The magnetocaloric effect has been estimated both in terms of isothermal magnetic entropy change and adiabatic temperature change for selected solid solutions in magnetic fields up to 3 T.     

Structural and magnetic properties and hyperfine interaction in La3.5Ru4O13 compound

Structural, magnetic and hyperfine interaction measurements have been carried out on the novel compound La_3.5Ru₄O₁₃ prepared under two different atmospheres (air and oxygen flow). This compound is formed in the orthorhombic structure (space group Pmmm, # 47). The coexistence of the triple-layered perovskite-type planes (quasi-2D structure) and the rutile-like slabs (1D structure) leads to interesting magnetic and electronic properties in this compound. The magnetic susceptibility of this system shows a peak at T~47 K associated with antiferromagnetic interactions. The Curie-Weiss behaviour of the susceptibility provides an effective magnetic moment consistent with Ru ions in low-spin state. Perturbed angular correlation measurements carried out with ¹¹¹Cd probe in the temperature range 10-60 K reveal only quadrupole interactions and indicate the occurrence of structural distortions for T<40 K.     

Correlation of electrical and thermalphysical properties of La0.85Ag0.15MnO3 manganite

The relationship of electrical and thermal properties of manganites has been traced through the analysis of temperature dependence of the La_0.85Ag_0.15MnO₃ resistivity. The discussion of results has been held on the basis of percolation theory in the framework of the phase-layered manganite. A behavior of the heat capacity, as well as a change in magnetic entropy can be predicted from the analysis of temperature and magnetic-field dependences of resitivity.     

Electrical properties of pure and Li2O-doped CuO/Fe2O3 system precalcined at different temperatures

The electrical properties of pure and Li₂O-doped CuO/Fe₂O₃ solids were investigated. Pure and variously doped solids were subjected to thermal treatment at 1073–1273 K and the amount of dopant was varied between 0.84 to 3.36 mol%. The effect of precalcination temperature and amount of Li₂O added on the electrical conductivity σ, activation energy E_a and dielectric constant * were studied. The variation of ′ and ″ as a function of frequency for pure and variously doped solids precalcined at different temperatures was also investigated. The results obtained were discussed.     

永磁性大块金属玻璃Nd60Al10Fe20Co10低 温磁性的研究

研究了Nd₆₀Al₁₀Fe₂₀Co₁₀ 大块金属玻璃 磁性随温度的变化关系，结果表明Nd₆₀Al₁₀Fe₂₀Co₁₀ 在室温下 表现为永磁性，随着温 度的降低，矫顽力和磁滞回线形状都有很大的变化.交流磁化率在18 K左右出现尖峰而且峰 值温度随频率变化，表明该大块非晶体系中存在自旋玻璃态. 关键词： 大块金属玻璃 低温磁化率 自旋玻璃     

Structure and magnetic properties of Fe1.14Cr1.86Se4 ferrimagnet: Negative magnetization and its dependence on magnetic field

Small single crystals of the Fe_1.14(7)Cr_1.86(8)Se_4.0(2) ferrimagnet were grown using chemical vapor transport. Fe_1.14Cr_1.86Se₄ adopts the Cr₃S₄ structure with two metal sites. The magnetic behavior of Fe_1.14Cr_1.86Se₄ can be described by two magnetic sublattices with different magnetization values and different temperature dependencies. Depending on the experimental conditions, such as the strength and direction of the cooling field, magnetization reversal, large negative magnetization and high-temperature compensation point may result. If the cooling field exceeds 1.5 Oe, magnetization reversal occurs at low temperatures. If the cooling and applied fields are opposite, a large negative magnetization and high-temperature compensation point are observed.     

Low-frequency dielectric dispersion and magnetic properties of La,Gd modified Pb(Fe1/2Ta1/2)O3 multiferroics

Pb(Fe_1/2Ta_1/2)O₃ (PFT) modified by rare-earth (La and Gd) ions has been synthesized in a single phase using a double-stage synthesis (i.e., Columbite) technique. Scanning electron micrographs (SEM) of the pellet samples have shown a significant change in their grain size and uniform distribution of Gd/La at the Fe-sites. The room temperature X-ray structural analysis shows that the reported cubic (or tetragonal) structure of PFT has been distorted to a monoclinic system on substitution of La/Gd at the Fe-site. Detailed studies of dielectric properties of the above compound on La/Gd substitution have shown strong dielectric dispersion at low frequency (i.e. relaxor behavior) with drastic change in transition temperature. Magnetic characterization shows that though the PFT sample displays an antiferromagnetic transition at ∼150 K, the rare-earth ions-substituted samples do not. Furthermore, temperature dependence of magnetization measurements shows that spin glass transition observed in PFT at low temperatures (5–20 K) does not exist in the La and Gd substituted PFT. Doping of Gd in PFT increases the sample magnetization, especially at low temperature.     

The effect of urea-to-nitrates ratio on the morphology and magnetic properties of Mn0.8Mg0.2Fe2O4

Mn_0.8Mg_0.2Fe₂O₄ ferrite was synthesized using flash auto-combustion technique using urea as fuel. The effect of the urea-to-nitrates ratio was examined and found to affect the samples characteristics. The as-burnt powder was crystallized in single-phase spinel structure of cubic symmetry. The lattice parameter was decreased with increase in the urea-to-nitrates ratio (n) while the crystal size increased from 21 to 42 nm with n changing from 6.67 to 10. The coercivity increases while the saturation and remanence magnetization decreases with increase in n. This was attributed to the disturbance of the spin order as a result of the surface effects.     

Magnetic order and crystal field in Dy2Ru2O7 and Yb2Ru2O7

The magnetic properties of R₂Ru₂O₇ pyrochlore compounds (R=Yb, Dy) were studied using specific heat down to 0.4 K and bulk magnetic measurements. These two rare-earth elements were chosen to demonstrate the effect of Ru-R exchange interaction on R magnetic sublattice, in two cases of anisotropy: axial in Dy and planar in Yb. Dy₂Ru₂O₇ undergoes a second order transition to a fully ordered state at 1.85 K with no signs of the spin-ice state. In Yb₂Ru₂O₇ the Yb sublattice orders gradually around 8 K due to the Ru molecular field and no further transition is observed down to 0.4 K. Including the Ru molecular field at the R site in calculations based on crystal field parameters known from titanates R₂Ti₂O₇, allowed us to interpret experimental data.     

Unusual magnetic hysteresis behavior of oxide spinel MnCo2O4

Magnetic hysteresis behavior of the oxide spinel MnCo₂O₄ has been studied at different temperatures below its T_c≈184 K. Normal hysteresis behavior is observed down to 130 K whereas below this temperature the initial magnetization curve, at higher magnetic fields, lies outside the main loop. No related anomaly is observed in the temperature variation of magnetization or coercivity. However, the anisotropy field overcomes the coercivity below 130 K. The unusual magnetic hysteresis behavior of MnCo₂O₄, at low temperatures, may be associated with irreversible domain wall movements due to the rearrangement of the valence electrons.     

纳米结构Cu固体材料的低温热容性能研究

采用真空热压技术在高真空和温度为523K的情况下,通过不同压力将直径平均大约为45nm的Cu纳米粉末压制成纳米结构Cu固体材料,将X射线衍射、扫描电镜与物性测试仪(PPMS)相结合,研究了低温下纳米结构Cu固体材料的比热容随温度和材料密度的变化.研究结果表明:低温比热容随着纳米结构Cu固体材料密度的降低而升高;纳米结构Cu固体材料的低温比热容大于粗晶Cu,其增加率在10K左右达到极大.基于缺陷的热振动效应,探讨了这些现象的物理机理.     

In situ pressure-induced solid-state amorphization in Sm2(MoO4)3, Eu2(MoO4)3 and Gd2(MoO4)3 crystals: chemical decomposition scenario

The effect of pressure on the phase transformations in Sm₂(MoO₄)₃, Gd₂(MoO₄)₃ and Eu₂(MoO₄)₃ crystals has been studied in situ using synchrotron radiation. All three isostructural compounds undergo a structural phase transition at 2.2-2.8 GPa to a new phase, which is interpreted as a possible precursor of amorphization. Amorphization in these crystals occurs irreversibly over a wide pressure range, and its mechanism, interpreted as a chemical decomposition, is found to be weakly affected by the degree of hydrostaticity.     

Structural, magnetic and electric properties of HoMnO3 films on SrTiO3(001)

HoMnO₃ films were grown on pure and Nb-doped SrTiO₃ (001) substrates by pulsed laser deposition. The films grew epitaxially with the c-axis along the substrate normal. Varying the deposition temperature between 650 and 850 °C did not significantly affect the structural and magnetic properties of the films, whereas growth in oxygen partial pressures below 0.01 mbar lead to a degradation of the structural properties. Some of the films had a ferromagnetic-like magnetic phase transition at about 45 K, probably related to Mn₃O₄ precipitates; this magnetic response was isotropic. The Ho sublattice was found to be paramagnetic down to 5 K, but showing a pronounced anisotropy with the c-axis being the hard axis. The films showed a distinct dielectric anomaly at 16 K that depended on voltage and slightly on frequency in the range between 1 kHz and 1 MHz. The magnetoelectric effect was large with an in-plane field of 8 T suppressing the dielectric anomaly completely.