Anomalous magnetic susceptibility in Nd<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>Sr<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> manganite single crystals

Chaotic oscillations of the low-frequency magnetic susceptibility χ in a Nd_0.5Sr_0.5MnO₃ (NSMO) manganite single crystal have been observed in the temperature interval of the coexistence of the ferro- and antiferromagnetic phases of the given composition. It is established that the amplitude of χ oscillations depends on the constant bias magnetic field. The appearance of susceptibility oscillations in NSMO single crystals is attributed to the formation of magnetic transition regions, which can exist at the boundaries between ferro- and antiferromagnetic phases.     

Investigation of Magnetic,Magnetocaloric, and Critical Properties of La<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>Ba<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> Manganite

We present an extensive study of the magnetic properties of a novel La_0.5Ba_0.5MnO₃ perovskite material prepared by the hydrothermal method. The explored sample was structurally studied by the x-ray diffraction (XRD) method which confirms the formation of a pure cubic phase of a perovskite structure with Pm3m space group. The magnetic properties were probed by employing temperature M (T) and external magnetic field M (μ_oH) dependence of magnetization measurements. A magnetic phase transition from ferromagnetic to paramagnetic phase occurs at 339 K in this sample. The maximum magnetic entropy change (\(\left | {{\Delta } S}_{M}^{\max } \right |\)) took a value of 1.4 J kg^??1 K^??1 at the applied magnetic field of 4.0 T for the explored sample and has also been found to occur at Curie temperature (T_C). This large entropy change might be instigated from the abrupt reduction of magnetization at T_C. The magnetocaloric effect (MCE) is maximum at T_C as represented by M (μ_oH) isotherms. The relative cooling power (RCP) is 243.2 J kg^??1 at μ_oH =?4.0 T. Moreover, the critical properties near T_C have been probed from magnetic data. The critical exponents δ, β, and γ with values 3.82, 0.42, and 1.2 are close to the values predicted by the 3D Ising model. Additionally, the authenticity of the critical exponents has been confirmed by the scaling equation of state and all data fall on two separate branches, one for T < T_C and the other for T > T_C, signifying that the critical exponents obtained in this work are accurate.     

Metamagnetic Transition and Magnetocaloric Effect in La<Subscript>0.45</Subscript>Dy<Subscript>0.05</Subscript>Ca<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>Mn<Subscript>0.9</Subscript>V<Subscript>0.1</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> Compound

La_0.45Dy_0.05Ca_0.5Mn_0.9V_0.1O₃, prepared by solid-state route, was characterized using x-ray diffraction at room temperature. The Rietveld refinement shows that the sample crystallizes in orthorhombic structure with Pbnm space group. A secondary phase LaVO₄ has been also detected. The temperature dependence of the magnetization was investigated to determine the characteristics of the magnetic transition. The sample exhibits a paramagnetic-ferromagnetic transition (PM-FM) at T _C = 81 ± 0.7 K when temperature decreases. The study of the inverse of susceptibility reveals the presence of ferromagnetic clusters in the paramagnetic region. A metamagnetic transition was observed from the M(H) curves and the magnetic entropy change was calculated from magnetization curves at different temperatures in order to evaluate the magnetocaloric effect.     

Short-range antiferromagnetic correlations and large magnetic entropy change in (La<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>Pr<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>)<Subscript>0.67</Subscript>Ca<Subscript>0.33</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript>

We report a detailed study of magnetic properties in manganite (La_0.5Pr_0.5)_0.67Ca_0.33MnO₃. In contrast to the usual beliefs, it shows an abnormal upturn deviation from the Curie–Weiss law on the inverse susceptibility curve. Such a non-Griffiths-like phase is further confirmed from the inverse double integrated intensities of electron paramagnetic resonance spectrum. Because La\(^{3+}\) ions are substituted by Pr\(^{3+}\) ions with 50% concentrations, the ratio of three ions (La\(^{3+}\), Pr\(^{3+}\), Ca\(^{2+}\)) is close to 1 on A-site sublattice. As a result, some short-range antiferromagnetic (CO AFM) phases come into being in the system due to the existence of localized charge ordering states. Therefore, the upturn deviation from Curie–Weiss law originates from the appearance of short-range CO AFM correlations above \(T_{\text{C}}\). Additionally, a magnetic field-driven-metamagnetic transition is found, which gives a main contribution for the large magnetic entropy change (MEC) observed in this sample. Both the Arrott plot and the renormalized MEC curves testify that this transition belongs to first-order magnetic transition. The insignificant hysteresis loop indicate that the inevitable thermal hysteresis can be ignored in the present first-order material implying that it is a potential candidate for the cryogenic temperature magnetic refrigeration.     

Structural,dielectric and impedance spectroscopy studies of (Na<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>Bi<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>)(Zr<Subscript>0.025</Subscript>Ti<Subscript>0.975</Subscript>)O<Subscript>3</Subscript> ceramic

Structural, vibrational, dielectric and electrical properties of (Na_0.5Bi_0.5)(Zr_0.025Ti_0.975)O₃ ceramic synthesized by the solid-state reaction technique have been carried out. The X-ray diffraction analysis was indicated as a pure perovskite phase in the rhombohedral structure. The modes of rhombohedral vibrations were appeared in the experimental Raman spectrum at room temperature. The dielectric and electrical properties of the material were investigated by impedance spectroscopy analysis for a broad range of temperatures (50–560 °C) and frequency domain of 10²?10⁶ Hz. The dielectric measurement exhibit two phase transitions: a ferro-antiferroelectric transition followed by an antiferro-paraelectric transition at higher temperatures. Complex impedance analysis was carried out in order to distinct the contribution of the grains and the grain boundaries to the total electrical conduction. The Nyquist plot was proved to be a non-Debye relaxation mechanism. The combined spectroscopic plots of the imaginary part of electric impedance and modulus confirmed the non-Debye type behavior. The frequency dependent ac conductivity obeys the double power law behavior and shows three types of conduction process. The significant decrease of dc conductivity spectrum followed the Arrhenius relationship. The values of calculated activation energy of the compound implied that the electrical conduction is mostly due the high oxygen mobility.     

Electron Spin Resonance Study of Polycrystalline La<Subscript>0.4</Subscript>Bi<Subscript>0.1</Subscript>Ca<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript>

We have inspected the magnetic properties of polycrystalline La_0.4Bi_0.1Ca_0.5MnO₃ using electron spin resonance (ESR) in the temperature range 150–280 K. The temperature dependence of magnetization indicates that the Curie temperature is T _C= 225 K. ESR spectra revealed that the sample is not completely paramagnetic above its Curie temperature through the presence of ferromagnetic interactions in the temperature range 225–270 K which can be attributed to the presence of Griffiths phase in this temperature range. The sample becomes completely paramagnetic above 270 K. The presence of Griffiths phase can be attributed to the disorder induced by the 6 s ² lone pair electrons of Bi³⁺ ions.     

Phenomenological model of the magnetocaloric effect and its correlation with critical behavior near room temperature in La<Subscript>0.7</Subscript>Ca<Subscript>0.2</Subscript>Sr<Subscript>0.1</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> manganite

In this paper, we investigate the field dependence of the magnetocaloric properties of La_0.7Ca_0.2Sr_0.1MnO₃ powder sample using a phenomenological model. Our compound was elaborated by the conventional solid state reaction. The model parameters were determined from the magnetization data and were used to give better fits to magnetic transition and to calculate the magnetocaloric quantities. The magnetocaloric parameters such as the maximum of the magnetic entropy change \(\Delta S_M^{max}\) and the relative cooling power RCP, have been determined from the calculation of the magnetization as a function of temperature under several magnetic applied field. Thus, from the magnetocaloric results, such as RCP?≈?b(μ₀H)^1+1/δ and T_peak???T_C ≈ b (µ₀H)^1/Δ, the critical exponents values related to the magnetic transition have been determined. The estimated results are close to those expected by the tricritical mean-field model. Furthermore, the values of the ferromagnetic transition temperature T_C, as well as the critical exponents β, γ and δ obtained by the theoretical model, are compared with those obtained by other various techniques (such as the modified Arrott plots, the Kouvel–Fisher method and the critical isotherm analysis). A good agreement has been found in the vicinity of the Curie temperature.     

Magnetic phase diagram of solid solutions in the CoCr<Subscript>2</Subscript>S<Subscript>4</Subscript>–Cu<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>In<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>Cr<Subscript>2</Subscript>S<Subscript>4</Subscript> system

The magnetic properties of CoCr₂S₄–Cu_0.5In_0.5Cr₂S₄ solid solutions have been studied in the temperature range 5–300 K at different ac magnetic field frequencies (100, 500, and 1000 Hz) and an amplitude of 79.6 A/m. We have determined the temperatures of the magnetic transformations in the system, identified their nature, and constructed the magnetic phase diagram of the solid solutions.     

Effect of Monovalent Cation Doping on Structural,Magnetic, and Magnetocaloric Properties of Pr<Subscript>0.85</Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">A</Emphasis><Subscript>0.15</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> (A = Ag and K) Manganites

A systematic study on the effect of monovalent cation doping on structural, magnetic, and magnetocaloric properties of Pr_0.85 A _0.15MnO₃ (A = Ag and K) samples synthesized by a sol-gel method has been carried out. The crystal structure and morphology have been worked by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging measurements. The XRD results indicate that both samples have orthorhombic structure. Magnetization versus temperature measurements show that our samples display a ferromagnetic-to-paramagnetic phase transition with increasing temperature. The ferromagnetic-to-paramagnetic phase transition temperature (T _C) values were found as 74 and 116 K for Pr_0.85Ag_0.15MnO₃ and Pr_0.85 K _0.15MnO₃, respectively. The magnetic entropy changes were evaluated from isothermal magnetization curves measured at various temperatures near T _C by steps of 4 K. The values of the magnetic entropy change were determined as 0.99 and 1.39 J kg ^?1 K ^?1 for Pr_0.85Ag_0.15MnO₃ and Pr_0.85 K _0.15MnO₃ under external field changes of 10 kOe, respectively.     

Magnetic properties of oriented <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-Cd<Subscript>0.947</Subscript>Mn<Subscript>0.053</Subscript>GeAs<Subscript>2</Subscript> single crystals at pressures of up to 7 GPa

The magnetic susceptibility and transverse magnetoresistance of p-Cd_0.947Mn_0.053GeAs₂ single crystals have been measured at hydrostatic pressures p < 7 GPa. The crystals are shown to undergo a pressure-induced metamagnetic phase transition and to have a negative magnetoresistance.     

Strain-Induced First-Order Magnetic Phase Transition in Epitaxial Sm<Subscript>0.35</Subscript>Pr<Subscript>0.15</Subscript>Sr<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> Thin Film

Epitaxial Sm_0.35Pr_0.15Sr_0.5MnO₃ thin films were deposited on LaAlO₃ (LAO, (001)), SrTiO₃ (STO, (001)), and (La_0.18Sr_0.82)(Al_0.59Ta_0.41)O₃ (LSAT, (001)) single-crystalline substrates by using pulsed laser deposition technique. In order to examine the strain effect on electronic and magnetic properties, films were studied by X-ray diffraction, electrical resistivity, and dc magnetization measurements. The film grown on LAO substrate is under compressive strain, and it undergoes ferromagnetic → paramagnetic transition at Curie temperature (T _C) of ～ 165 K and metal → insulator transition at ～ 107 K. The films grown on STO and LSAT substrates are under tensile strain and have T _C of ～ 120 and 130 K, respectively, and show metal → insulator transition at ～ 145 and 137 K, respectively. At T < T _C, the zerofield and fieldcooled magnetization curves of all the films show a huge bifurcation. In the case of films on STO and LSAT substrates, hysteresis is also observed in fieldcooled cooling and warming magnetization vs. temperature measurement protocols at low magnetic field. All the signatures of the firstorder magnetic phase transition are absent in the case of film on LAO substrate. The occurrence and absence of firstorder magnetic phase transition in films on LAO, STO, and LSAT substrates, respectively, have been well explained through the substrateinduced film lattice strain.     

Superconducting Properties of NdO<Subscript>0.5</Subscript><Emphasis Type="Bold">F</Emphasis><Subscript>0.5</Subscript>BiS<Subscript>2</Subscript> Single Crystals

We report on superconducting properties of high-quality single crystals of F-substituted NdOBiS₂ using low-temperature magnetization and transport measurements. Using the mixture of CsCl and KCl as the flux, we have synthesized our single crystals. This compound exhibits bulk superconductivity with a transition temperature of about T _c～4.6 K. The critical current density J _c as a function of temperature has been derived and decreases with the increasing temperature. We construct the phase diagram H _c2(T). The zero-temperature value for \(H_{\mathrm {c2}}^{B\parallel c}\) for value for \(T_{c}^{90~\%}\) and \(T_{c}^{0~\%}\) is estimated to be approximately 2.17 and 1.72 T respectively by using Werthamer-Helfand-Hohenberg model.     

Photoluminescence of Ga<Subscript>2</Subscript>S<Subscript>3</Subscript>:Sm<Superscript>2+</Superscript> crystals

The photoluminescence spectra of Ga₂S₃:Sm²⁺ crystals have been measured in a wide temperature range (77–450 K). The results have been used to identify the mechanisms of the luminescence and energy transfer from the host to the rare-earth ion.     

Critical Behavior Near the Paramagnetic to Ferromagnetic Phase Transition Temperature in Sr<Subscript>1.5</Subscript>Nd<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>4</Subscript> Compound

The magnetic properties and the critical behavior in Sr_1.5Nd_0.5MnO₄ have been investigated by magnetization measurements. The magnetic data indicate that the compound exhibits a second-order phase transition. The estimated critical exponents derived from the magnetic data using various techniques such as modified Arrott plot, Kouvel–Fisher method, and critical magnetization isotherms M (T _C, H). The critical exponent values for this compound was found to match well with those predicted for the mean-field model (δ = 2.212 ± 0.124, γ = 0.975 ± 0.018, and β = 0.502 ± 0.012) at T _C = 228.59 ± 0.17. The critical exponent γ is slightly inferior than predicted from the mean-field model. Such a difference may be due, within the context of the quenched disorder and essentially the presence of the Griffiths phase. The temperature variation in the effective exponent (γ _eff) is similar to those for disordered ferromagnets.     

Spin State of Cobalt and Electrical Transport Mechanism in MgCo<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript> System

MgCo₂O₄ samples were synthesized by inverse co-precipitation method. The formation of a single-phase spinel structure was confirmed by X-ray diffraction measurements and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The samples crystallized in a face-centered cubic structure with Fd-3m space group as revealed from the Rietveld refinement of X-ray diffraction data. Magnetic measurements carried out in a broad temperature range of 5–300 K showed antiferromagnetic to paramagnetic phase transition (Neel temperature) observed at 101 K. Magnetic susceptibility data fitted using the Curie Weiss law and effective Bohr magnetic moment (μ_eff) for Co atoms was determined. Calculated μ_eff comes out to be 3.05 μ_B. These results were correlated to the spin states of Co³⁺ atoms. A small hysteresis in the field-dependent magnetization MH loop taken at 5 K indicates the existence of weak ferromagnetism in this system. The electrical resistivity measurement in the temperature range 77–750 K displayed the semiconducting-like behavior for this system.     

High-temperature phase transition,coordination mechanism and magnetism in multiferroic YMnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> nanopowders

Single phase YMnO₃ nanopowders were successfully synthesized by a modified polyacrylamide gel route at an optimal sintering temperature. High temperature is helpful for further crystallization and the formation of single hexagonal YMnO₃. The process was monitored by X-ray diffraction as well as by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, transmission electron microscope, Fourier transform infrared spectrum and magnetic measurements. A mixture of orthorhombic and hexagonal phases was found to exist in the 800?°C, while for the metastable orthorhombic YMnO₃ phase complete conversion to hexagonal phase occurs at 950?°C. In the synthesis process, the coordination mechanisms of EDTA anions and metal ions (Y³⁺ and Mn³⁺) have been discussed on the basis of the experimental and computational results. The synthesis route used in this case has been aggreed to be more convenient for obtaining single hexagonal YMnO₃ phase than by the combination of hydrothermal synthesisand additional thermal treatment or the glycine–nitrate process. The magnetic susceptibility indicates that the anti-ferromagnetic transition temperature increases from 58 to 71 K with increasing sintering temperature from 800 to 950?°C.     

Modulus spectroscopy of lead potassium titanium niobate (Pb<Subscript>0.95</Subscript>K<Subscript>0.1</Subscript>Ti<Subscript>0.25</Subscript>Nb<Subscript>1.8</Subscript>O<Subscript>6</Subscript>) ceramics

The modulus Spectroscopy of Lead Potassium Titanium Niobate (Pb_0.95K_0.1Ti_0.25Nb_1.8O₆, PKTN) Ceramics was investigated in the frequency range from 45 Hz to 5 MHz and the temperature, from 30 to 600 °C. XRD analysis in PKTN indicated a orthorhombic structure with lattice parameters a = 18.0809 Å, b = 18.1909 Å and c = 3.6002 Å. The dielectric anomaly with a peak was observed at 510 °C. Variation of ε^I and ε^II with frequency at different temperatures exhibit high values, which reflects the effect of space charge polarization and/or conduction ion motion. The electrical relaxation in ionically conducting PKTN ceramic analyzed in terms of Impedance and Modulus formalism. The Cole–Cole plots of impedance were drawn at different temperatures. The dielectric modulus, which describes the dielectric relaxation behaviour is fitted to the Kohlrausch exponential function. Near the phase transition temperature, a stretched exponential parameter β indicating the degree of distribution of the relaxation time has a small value. From the AC conductivity measurements the activation energy near phase transition temperature (T _C°C) has been found to different from that of the above and below T _C. The temperature dependence of electrical modulus has been studied and results are discussed.     

Proton Conductivity and Thermal Properties of Ba(H<Subscript>2</Subscript>PO<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript>

We have grown single crystals of barium dihydrogen phosphate and studied its thermal transformations during heating to 500°C and its electrotransport properties. Ba(H₂PO₄)₂ (Pccn) has been shown to undergo no phase transitions up to its dehydration temperature. The thermal decomposition of Ba(H₂PO₄)₂, accompanied by dehydration, involves two steps, with maximum rates at ~265 and 370°C, and results in the formation of barium dihydrogen pyrophosphate and barium metaphosphate, respectively. The total enthalpy of the endothermic dehydration events is–244.6 J/g. Using impedance spectroscopy, we have studied in detail the proton conductivity of polycrystalline and single-crystal Ba(H₂PO₄)₂ samples in a controlled atmosphere. Adsorbed water has been shown to have a significant effect on the proton conductivity of Ba(H₂PO₄)₂ up to 130°C. The proton conductivity of the Ba(H₂PO₄)₂ single crystals has been shown to be anisotropic. The conductivity anisotropy correlates with specific structural features of the salt. Higher conductivity values, 3 × 10^–9 to 2 × 10^–7 S/cm in the range 60–160°C, have been observed in the [100] crystallographic direction, exceeding the conductivity along [010] by an order of magnitude. The activation energy for proton conduction is 0.80 eV.     

In-field Conductivity Fluctuations in Ba<Subscript>0.72</Subscript>K<Subscript>0.28</Subscript>Fe<Subscript>2</Subscript>As<Subscript>2</Subscript> Single Crystals

Fluctuations in the conductivity of Ba_0.72K_0.28Fe₂As₂ single crystal are studied systematically by resistance measurements as a function of temperature and magnetic field. A clear Maki?Thompson and Aslamakov?Larkin (MT–AL) two- to three-dimensional (2D–3D) crossover is found on the excess conductivity (Δσ) curves as the temperature approaches the superconducting critical temperature, T _c. 3D fluctuations in superconductivity are realized near T _c that are well fitted to experimental data by the 3D Aslamazov–Larkin theory. The Maki–Thompson model shows a 2D conductivity fluctuation above the 2D-3D temperature transition, T ₀, which depends on magnetic field. Results show that the 2D-3D dimensional crossover moves to lower temperature with increasing magnetic field. The values of the transition temperature and the crossover in the reduced temperature, ln(ε ₀), as functions of magnetic field were used to determine the coherence length and the lifetime, τ _φ , of the fluctuational pairs at the temperature of 35 K. Analysis of the Ba_0.72K_0.28Fe₂As₂ single crystal gives a value of 3.76 × 10^??12 s for the τ _φ in the absence of magnetic field and it decreases to 2.4 × 10^??12 s in magnetic field of 13 T.     

Phenomenological Model of Magnetocaloric Effect in La<Subscript>0.7</Subscript>Ca<Subscript>0.2</Subscript>Ba<Subscript>0.1</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> Manganite Around Room Temperature

In this work, we studied in detail the magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of the La_0.7Ca_0.2Ba_0.1MnO₃ compound according to the phenomenological model. Based on this model, the magnetocaloric parameters such as the maximum of the magnetic entropy change ΔS _M and the relative cooling power (RCP) have been determined from the magnetization data as a function of temperature at several magnetic fields. The theoretical predictions are found to closely agree with the experimental measurements, which make our sample a suitable candidate for refrigeration near room temperature. In addition, field dependences of \({{\Delta } S}_{\mathrm {M}}^{\max }\) and RCP can be expressed by the power laws \({\Delta S}_{\mathrm {M}}^{\max }\approx a\)(μ ₀ H) ⁿ and RCP ≈b(μ ₀ H) ^m , where a and b are coefficients and n and m are the field exponents, respectively. Moreover, phenomenological universal curves of entropy change confirm the second-order phase transition.