Spin-Phonon Coupling in A2BMnO6 (A = La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd; B = Co, Ni) Double-Perovskite Thin Films: Impact of the A-Site Cation Radius

Abstract

Two series of B-site ordered, double-perovskite A2CoMnO6 and A2NiMnO6 (A = La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd) epitaxial films with thickness d ~ 100 nm were grown on SrTiO3(111) substrates via metalorganic aerosol deposition. Polarization and temperature-dependent Raman spectroscopy were carried out in order to determine the spin-phonon coupling constant, λ, and the impact of the A-site cation radius on the phonon properties. The reduction of the A-site cation radius from La3+ down to Gd3+ systematically shifts the Raman modes to lower wavenumbers, and decreases the magnetization-induced softening of the Ag breathing mode, described by the spin-phonon coupling constant, λ, which changes from λ = 1.42 cm−1 (La2CoMnO6) and λ = 1.53 cm−1 (La2NiMnO6) down to λ = 0.58 cm−1 (Gd2CoMnO6) and λ = 0.44 cm−1 (Gd2NiMnO6). A similar effect of the A-cation radius was established for the c-lattice parameter and Curie temperature, TC, in this series of double-perovskite films. Our observations directly demonstrate a strong impact of the lattice structure on the ferromagnetic superexchange interaction in double perovskites. Moreover, the A2CoMnO6 and A2NiMnO6 series exhibit very similar behavior of spin-phonon coupling due to the only moderate difference of Co2+ and Ni2+ cation size.