Sudhindra Rayaprol

Indium flux-growth of Eu2AuGe3: A new germanide with an AlB2 superstructure

The germanide Eu(2)AuGe(3) was obtained as large single crystals in high yield from a reaction of the elements in liquid indium. At room temperature Eu(2)AuGe(3) crystallizes with the Ca(2)AgSi(3) type, space group Fmmm, an ordered variant of the AlB(2) type: a = 857.7(4), b = 1485.5(10), c = 900.2(4) pm. The gold and germanium atoms build up slightly distorted graphite-like layers which consist of Ge(6) and Au(2)Ge(4) hexagons, leading to two different hexagonal-prismatic coordination environments for the europium atoms. Magnetic susceptibility data showed Curie-Weiss law behavior above 50 K and antiferromagnetic ordering at 11 K. The experimentally measured magnetic moment indicates divalent europium. The compound exhibits a distinct magnetic anisotropy based on single crystal measurements and at 5 K it shows a metamagnetic transition at ∼10 kOe. Electrical conductivity measurements show metallic behavior. The structural transition at 130 K observed in the single crystal data was very well supported by the conductivity measurements. (151)Eu Mössbauer spectroscopic data show an isomer shift of -11.24 mm/s at 77 K, supporting the divalent character of europium. In the magnetically ordered regime one observes superposition of two signals with hyperfine fields of 26.0 (89%) and 3.5 (11%) T, respectively, indicating differently ordered domains.

Magnetoelectric coupling in Ca3CoMnO6

Magnetic structure and dielectric response of Ca3CoMnO6 have been studied as a function of temperature and applied magnetic field. Neutron diffraction experiments at low temperatures reveal changes in the magnetic structure in the temperature range 2–10 K. The pristine magnetic structure undergoes significant change with the application of magnetic field at these temperatures. Dielectric measurements reveal the presence of magnetoelectric coupling below magnetic ordering temperature (TN=15 K). The present work brings out the existence of a correlation between magnetic structure and dielectric properties.

Structure and magnetic properties of RE4CoCd and RE4RhCd (RE = Tb, Dy, Ho)

New rare earth metal rich cadmium compounds RE₄CoCd and RE₄RhCd (RE = Tb, Dy, Ho) were prepared by high-frequency melting of the elements in sealed tantalum tubes. The samples were studied by x-ray powder and single-crystal diffraction. All the compounds crystallize with Gd₄RhIn-type structure, with space group [Formula: see text]. The structures are built up from rigid three-dimensional networks of condensed, cobalt (rhodium) centred trigonal RE₆ prisms. The voids left by these networks are filled by Cd₄ cluster units and the coordination number 14 polyhedra of the RE1 atoms. The terbium and dysprosium compounds in both series undergo antiferromagnetic ordering, whereas the holmium compounds exhibit ferromagnetic ordering. The magnetic ordering in these compounds is characterized by broad peaks around the transition temperatures. The results of detailed crystallographic investigations and preliminary magnetic and specific heat studies are presented and discussed in this work.

Magnetic order in the frustrated Ising-like chain compound Sr 3 Ni Ir O 6

We have studied the field and temperature dependence of the magnetization of single crystals of Sr3NiIrO6. These measurements evidence the presence of an easy axis of anisotropy and two anomalies in the magnetic susceptibility. Neutron powder diffraction realized on a polycrystalline sample reveals the emergence of magnetic reflections below 75 K with magnetic propagation vector k ~ (0, 0, 1), undetected in previous neutron studies [T.N. Nguyen and H.-C zur Loye, J. Solid State Chem., 117, 300 (1995)]. The nature of the magnetic ground state, and the presence of two anomalies common to this family of material, are discussed on the basis of the results obtained by neutron diffraction, magnetization measurements, and symmetry arguments.

Low temperature magnetic studies on PbFe0.5Nb0.5O3 multiferroic

PbFe0.5Nb0.5O3 (PFN), a well-known A(B′1/2B″1/2)O3 type multiferroic, was successfully synthesized in single phase by a single step solid state reaction method. The single phase PFN was characterized through XRD, microstructure through SEM, and magnetic studies were carried out through a temperature dependent vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) and neutron diffraction (ND) measurements. PFN exhibits a cusp at around 150 K in the temperature dependent magnetic susceptibility corresponding to the Neel temperature (TN1) and another peak around 10 K (TN2) corresponding to spin-glass like transition. In the temperature dependent ND studies, a magnetic Bragg peak appears at Q=1.35 A−1 (where Q=4πsinθ/λ, is called the scattering vector) below TN (150 K) implying antiferromagnetic (AFM) ordering in the system. On the basis of Rietveld analysis of the ND data at T=2 K, the magnetic structure of PFN could be explained by a G-type antiferromagnetic structure.

Correlation of exchange bias with magneto-structural effects across the compensation temperature of Co(Cr1–xFex)2O4 (x = 0.05 and 0.075)

A small amount of Fe (5% and 7.5%) substitution in the Cr-site of the multiferroic compound CoCr2O4 leads to a magnetization reversal. In these compounds, we report a sign change in the exchange bias across the compensation temperature, accompanied by a non-monotonic change in the local moments across the compensation temperature. Such non-monotonic change in the magnetic moments is triggered by a similar change in the lattice structure. We relate here the sign change of exchange bias with that of the crystalline energy of the lattice and the Zeeman energy term arising from the anti-site disorder.

Neutron diffraction studies on chemical and magnetic structure of multiferroic PbFe0.67W0.33O3

We report on the single phase synthesis and room temp. structural characterization of PbFe0.67W0.33O3 (PFW) multiferroic. The PFW was synthesized by low temp. sintering, Columbite method. Anal. of powder XRD pattern exhibits single phase formation of PFW with no traces of pyrochlore phase. Detailed anal. of room temp. neutron diffraction (ND) reveals cubic phase at room temp., space group Pm-​3m. The ND pattern clearly reveals magnetic Bragg peak at 2θ = 18.51° (Q = 1.36A-​1)​. The refinement of magnetic structure reveals G-​type antiferromagnetic structure in PFW at room temp. The dielec. const. and loss tangent decreases with increasing frequency. The room temp. P-​E measurements shows a nonlinear slim hysteresis, typical nature of relaxor multiferroics, with satn. and remnant polarizations of Ps = 1.50 μC​/cm2 and Pr = 0.40 μC​/cm2, resp. (c) 2014 American Institute of Physics.We report on the single phase synthesis and room temperature structural characterization of PbFe0.67W0.33O3 (PFW) multiferroic. The PFW was synthesized by low temperature sintering, Columbite method. Analysis of powder XRD pattern exhibits single phase formation of PFW with no traces of pyrochlore phase. Detailed analysis of room temperature neutron diffraction (ND) reveals cubic phase at room temperature, space group Pm-3m. The ND pattern clearly reveals magnetic Bragg peak at 2theeta = 18.51 (Q = 1.36{\AA}-1). The refinement of magnetic structure reveals G-type antiferromagnetic structure in PFW at room temperature. The dielectric constant and loss tangent decreases with increasing frequency. The room temperature P-E measurements shows a non-linear slim hysteresis, typical nature of relaxor multiferroics, with saturation and remnant polarizations of Ps = 1.50 microC/cm2 and Pr = 0.40 microC/cm2, respectively.We report on the single phase synthesis and room temperature structural characterization of PbFe{sub 0.67}W{sub 0.33}O{sub 3} (PFW) multiferroic. The PFW was synthesized by low temperature sintering, Columbite method. Analysis of powder XRD pattern exhibits single phase formation of PFW with no traces of pyrochlore phase. Detailed analysis of room temperature neutron diffraction (ND) reveals cubic phase at room temperature, space group Pm-3m. The ND pattern clearly reveals magnetic Bragg peak at 2θ = 18.51° (Q = 1.36A{sup −1}). The refinement of magnetic structure reveals G-type antiferromagnetic structure in PFW at room temperature. The dielectric constant and loss tangent decreases with increasing frequency. The room temperature P-E measurements shows a non-linear slim hysteresis, typical nature of relaxor multiferroics, with saturation and remnant polarizations of P{sub s} = 1.50 μC/cm{sup 2} and P{sub r} = 0.40 μC/cm{sup 2}, respectively.

Flux growth of Yb6.6Ir6Sn16 having mixed-valent ytterbium

The compound Yb6.6Ir6Sn16 was obtained as single crystals in high yield from the reaction of Yb with Ir and Sn run in excess indium. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis shows that Yb6.6Ir6Sn16 crystallizes in the tetragonal space group P42/nmc with a = b = 9.7105(7) Å and c = 13.7183(11) Å. The crystal structure is composed of a [Ir6Sn16] polyanionic network with cages in which the Yb atoms are embedded. The Yb sublattice features extensive vacancies on one crystallographic site. Magnetic susceptibility measurements on single crystals indicate Curie-Weiss law behavior <100 K with no magnetic ordering down to 2 K. The magnetic moment within the linear region (<100 K) is 3.21 μB/Yb, which is ∼70% of the expected value for a free Yb(3+) ion suggesting the presence of mixed-valent ytterbium atoms. X-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy confirms that Yb6.6Ir6Sn16 exhibits mixed valence. Resistivity and heat capacity measurements for Yb6.6Ir6Sn16 indicate non-Fermi liquid metallic behavior.

Magnetic behavior of Ba3Cu3Sc4O12

The chain-like system Ba(3)Cu(3)Sc(4)O(12) has potentially interesting magnetic properties due to the presence of Cu(2+) and a structure-suggested low dimensionality. We present magnetization M versus magnetic field H and temperature T, T- and H-dependent heat-capacity C(p), (45)Sc nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), muon spin rotation (μSR), neutron diffraction measurements and electronic structure calculations for Ba(3)Cu(3)Sc(4)O(12). The onset of magnetic long-range antiferromagnetic (AF) order at T(N) ∼ 16 K is consistently evidenced from the whole gamut of our data. A significant sensitivity of T(N) to the applied magnetic field H (T(N) ∼ 0 K for H = 70 kOe) is also reported. Coupled with a ferromagnetic Curie-Weiss temperature (θ(CW) ∼ 65 K) in the susceptibility (from a 100 to 300 K fit), it is indicative of competing ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic interactions. These indications are corroborated by our density functional theory based electronic structure calculations, where we find the presence of significant ferromagnetic couplings between some copper ions whereas AF couplings were present between some others. Our experimental data, backed by our theoretical calculations, rule out the one-dimensional magnetic behavior suggested by the structure and the observed long-range order is due to the presence of non-negligible magnetic interactions between adjacent as well as next-nearest chains.

Low temperature thermopower and electrical transport in misfit Ca(3)Co(4)O(9) with elongated c-axis

The temperature dependence of the electrical resistivity (ρ) and thermopower (S) of misfit cobaltite Ca3Co4O9 has been studied. The compound is a promising thermoelectric material, exhibiting very low ρ(~1.3 × 10−4 Ω cm) and reasonably high S (~56 µV K−1) at room temperature, which is desirable for thermoelectric applications. At T < 80 K, S exhibits T3/2 dependence, suggesting that electron–magnon scattering has a pronounced influence on S at low temperatures. Ca3Co4O9 exhibits a temperature independent power factor in the temperature range 300–80 K. A comparison of the temperature dependence of the power factor of Ca3Co4O9 with various materials projected or used as a thermoelectric cooler (e.g. single crystal of short c-axis Ca3Co4O9, polycrystalline La0.95Sr0.05CoO3, Bi0.85 Sb0.15, Bi2Te3, Bi-SiO2 composite) indicates that title compound Ca3Co4O9 is a much superior candidate for thermoelectric applications.