Thermal Conductivity of Superconductor Sr2RuO4 at Low Temperatures and Magnetic Fields

The temperature dependence of thermal conductivity of Sr₂RuO₄ is investigated by the Boltzmann equation approach. We consider both the isotropic and anisotropic gap energy in superconducting state in the absence and presence of low magnetic field, and obtain the temperature dependence of the components of thermal conductivity in both cases. In the case of isotropic gap, it is proportional to T ^1/2, whereas in the case of anisotropic gap, K _xx ∝T ^?1,K _yy ∝T, and K _xy =K _yx =constant. Furthermore, we show that at a low magnetic field K behaves as in the case of the zero magnetic field.     

Investigation of the occurrence of superconductivity below the antiferromagnetic transition in Ho(Ir0.7Rh0.3)4B4

The pseudoternary compound Ho(Ir_0.7Rh_0.3)₄B₄, which had previously been reported to exhibit the occurrence of antiferromagnetism above the superconducting transition, has been examined using heat capacity, ac magnetic susceptibility, upper critical magnetic field, thermal expansion, magnetostriction, electrical resistance, thermal conductivity, and static magnetization measurements. The data confirm the bulk nature of the antiferromagnetic phase transition and are consistent with the presence of bulk superconductivity coexisting with magnetic order.     

Low-temperature magnetic properties of HoRh4B4

The low-temperature magnetic properties of HoRh₄B₄ have been studied by means of measurements of the magnetic susceptibility, magnetization, specific heat, thermal expansion, and magnetostriction. The ferromagnetic phase transition at T _M= 6.7 K shows almost ideal S = 1/2 mean field behavior in the specific heat. Crystal field effects due to the splitting of the J = 8 Hund's rule ground state of the Ho³⁺ ions result in Schottky anomalies in the specific heat and the thermal expansion and are also revealed in the low-field magnetic susceptibility and the magnetostriction. Information on the ground state doublet of the 4f electrons has been obtained from the nuclear contribution to the specific heat below 1 K and the high-field magnetization below T_M.This research was supported by the Schweizerische Nationalfonds zur Forderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung (HRO), by the Department of Energy under Contract No. EY-76-S-03-0034-PA227-3 (LDW, MBM), and by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. NSF/DMR77-08469 (DCJ)     

Physical properties of a new cuprate superconductor Pr2Ba4Cu7O15−δ

We present studies of the thermal, magnetic, and electrical transport properties of reduced polycrystalline Pr₂Ba₄Cu₇O_15−δ (Pr247) showing a superconducting transition at T_c=10-16 K, and compare them with those of as-sintered non-superconducting Pr247. The electrical resistivity in the normal state exhibited T² dependence up to approximately 150 K. A clear specific heat anomaly was observed at T_c for Pr247 reduced in a vacuum for 24 h, proving the bulk nature of the superconducting state. By the reduction treatment, the magnetic ordering temperature T_N of Pr moments decreased from 16 to 11 K, and the entropy associated with the ordering increased, while the effective paramagnetic moments obtained from the DC magnetic susceptibility varied from 2.72 to 3.13μ_B. The sign of Hall coefficient changed from positive to negative with decreasing temperature in the normal state of a superconducting Pr247, while that of the as-sintered one was positive down to 5 K. The electrical resistivity under high magnetic fields was found to exhibit T^α dependence (α=0.08-0.4) at low temperatures. A possibility of superconductivity in the so-called CuO double chains is discussed.     

Pulsed-Field Ultrasonic Experiments in the Quasi-2D Antiferromagnet Cs2CuBr4

The magnetic insulators Cs₂CuCl₄ and Cs₂CuBr₄ are model systems for a frustrated quasi-two-dimensional triangular-lattice spin-1/2 Heisenberg antiferromagnet with a weak interlayer coupling. The quasi-two-dimensional character manifests itself in a broad maximum at T _max in the magnetic susceptibility, which for Cs₂CuCl₄ has been found to mark the upper bound for a spin-liquid regime (R. Coldea et al. in Phys. Rev. B 68:134424, 2003). Motivated by the observation of characteristic B ² dependencies in the elastic constants and ultrasound attenuation in the spin-liquid regime for this material, we look for corresponding signatures in the related Cs₂CuBr₄ compound at low temperatures T≤4.2 K and fields B≤50 T. We observe a softening of the elastic constant up to B _s ～32 T (B∥a) and a maximum in the sound attenuation at 0.86 B _s . Both quantities exhibit the same characteristic B ² dependence as found for Cs₂CuCl₄, suggesting the existence of a spin-liquid phase in Cs₂CuBr₄ as well.     

Metal-insulator transition in graphite: A comparison to heterostructures with high carrier mobility

Conditions for a transition from the insulator (I) to metal (M) state in the electron system of highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) have been studied by means of magnetotransport measurements in a broad temperature range (0.3–150 K). In magnetic fields below a certain critical value (B < B _c ≈ 0.05 T), HOPG exhibits the classical magnetoresistance, while for B > B _c, the temperature dependence of the resistance is determined by the state (insulator versus metal) of the electron system. The M-I transition in HOPG, by analogy with that in heterostructures with two-dimensional electron gas, obeys the power law T _c ∞ (B ? B _c) ^k (k = 0.25) and is related to the spin-orbit interaction of electron waves.     

Thermal and Mechanical Properties Optimization of ABO4 Type EuNbO4 By the B-Site Substitution of Ta

Ferroelastic ABO₄ type RETaO₄ and RENbO₄ ceramics (where RE stands for rare earth) are being investigated as promising thermal barrier coatings (TBCs), and the mechanical properties of RETaO₄ have been found to be better than those of RENbO₄. In this work, B-site substitution of tantalum (Ta) is used to optimize the thermal and mechanical properties of EuNbO₄ fabricated through a solid-state reaction (SSR). The crystal structure is clarified by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy; and the surface microstructure is surveyed via scanning electronic microscope (SEM). The Young’s modulus and the thermal expansion coefficient (TEC) of EuNbO₄ are effectively increased; with respective maximum values of 169 GPa and 11.2 × 10⁻⁶ K⁻¹ (at 1200 °C). The thermal conductivity is reduced to 1.52 W·K⁻¹·m⁻¹ (at 700 °C), and the thermal radiation resistance is improved. The relationship between the phonon thermal diffusivity and temperature was established in order to determine the intrinsic phonon thermal conductivity by eliminating the thermal radiation effects. The results indicate that the thermal and mechanical properties of EuNbO₄ can be effectually optimized via the B-site substitution of Ta, and that this proposed material can be applied as a high-temperature structural ceramic in future.     

Thermal conductivity of high-T c crystals: Dependence on magnitude and orientation of magnetic field,and effect of Zn doping

We present precise measurements of in-plane thermal conductivity for superconducting single crystals of YBa₂Cu₃O_7?x (YBCO) withT _c =92 and 60 K, Bi₂Sr₂CaCu₂O₈ (BSCCO), and of Zn-doped YBCO. Magnetization and thermal conductivity data obtained with the same 90-K YBCO crystal demonstrate a close relationship between the magnetic thermal resistivity and the internal magnetic fieldB in a superconductor in the mixed state. For all superconductors studied here, the magnetic thermal resistivity is a sublinear function of magnetic field. The origins of the nonlinearity are discussed. Angular dependences of the magnetic thermal resistivity have been shown to depart from the anisotropic 3D superconductor model and are in quantitative agreement with a quasi-2D model. Implications for spatial modulation of the order parameter are made.     

Dependence of Superconductivity and Its Weakly Linked Behavior in Bulk LaO1?x F x FeAs on F Doping

Samples of oxypnictide compound LaO_1?x F _x FeAs, with x=0.15 and 0.2 corresponding to over- and highly over-doped compositions, respectively, were prepared by solid-state reaction. We present their characterization by XRD and HRTEM, as well as resistivity ??(T), magnetization M(B) and microwave modulated absorption (MMA) response between 4.2?C300?K and applied fields B=0?C8?T. With change in?x, both the superconducting and magnetic behavior of the samples shows an interesting pattern. The ??magnetic anomaly?? at T??130?K, observed in M(T) for x=0, instead of getting totally suppressed shows a tendency to reappear in x=0.2 sample. Both samples typically show ??(300?K)>2.8×10^?3????cm and critical current density J _c(5?K, 1?T)<2×10⁷?A/m². The superconducting transitions as measured by ??(T) at B=0 are found broad for both x=0.15 and 0.2 samples with transition widths ??2.5 and 6?K, respectively. The slope |dB _c2/dT| (where B _c2 is upper critical field) determined by resistive onsets, for the x=0.15 and 0.2 samples, has values ??7.5 and 3.5?T/K, respectively. The superconducting state characteristics as reflected by ??(T,B), M(T), magnetic J _c(B) and MMA response are typical of the presence of weakly linked inter-grain regions in both the samples. Our HRTEM images of the x=0.15 sample show the presence of high angle (??43^°) grain boundaries, which are well known to limit the J _c in cuprate-based high T _c bulk materials.     

Evolution of Superconducting Properties of LiFeAs Single Crystals Doped with Magnetic or Nonmagnetic Impurities

The effect of magnetic Co²⁺ and nonmagnetic Ga³⁺ impurities on the crystal structure and superconducting properties of LiFeAs single crystals has been investigated. A large T _c decrease of about 4.8 K/at% is observed in Ga-doped LiFeAs. This rate is higher than that of the material doped with magnetic Co impurities (～3.7 K/at%). The greater T _c suppression in the Ga case is likely due to the pair breaking associated with the significant changes in the crystal structure of the doped material. The increase of the critical current densities in intermediate magnetic fields (H⊥?ab) indicates that a very small amount of Ga (0.5 at%) acts as an effective pinning site for flux pinning enhancement in the material. The analysis of the temperature and field dependencies of the magnetic relaxation is consistent with the collective pinning model for the Co-doped material, while the magnetic relaxation measurements combined with the peak position of the critical current density in the B–T phase diagram of Ga-doped LiFeAs suggest an elastic–plastic transition of the vortex lattice at higher temperatures and fields.     

Exchange-biased NiFe2O4/NiO nanocomposites derived from NiFe-layered double hydroxides as a single precursor

NiFe₂O₄ nanoparticles (<10 nm) embedded in a NiO matrix have been fabricated by calcining the corresponding Ni^IIFe^III-layered double hydroxide (LDH) precursors at high temperature (500 °C). Compared with the NiFe₂O₄/NiO nanocomposite obtained by calcination of a precursor prepared by a traditional chemical coprecipitation method, those derived from NiFe-LDH precursors show much higher blocking temperatures (T _B) (?380 K). The enhanced magnetic stability can be ascribed to the much stronger interfacial interaction between NiFe₂O₄ and NiO phases due to the topotactic nature of the transformation of the LDH precursor to the NiFe₂O₄/NiO composite material. Through tuning the Ni^II/Fe^III molar ratio of the NiFe-LDH precursor, the NiFe₂O₄ concentration can be precisely controlled, and the T _B value as well as the magnetic properties of the final material can also be regulated. This work represents a successful example of the fabrication of ferro(ferri)magnetic (FM)/antiferrimagnetic (AFM) systems with high magnetic stability from LDH precursors. This method is general and may be readily extended to other FM/AFM systems due to the wide range of available LDH precursors.      

Magnetic Transport Properties in GdBa2Cu3?x Ru x O7?δ Superconducting Phase

Bulk superconducting samples of type GdBa₂Cu_3?x Ru _x O_7?δ phase, Gd-123, with?x ranging from 0.0 to 0.15 were prepared by the conventional solid-state reaction technique. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and the electrical resistivity measurements were performed in order to investigate the effect of Ru⁴⁺ ions substitution on Gd-123 phase. Enhancement of the phase formation and the superconducting transition temperature T _c for GdBa₂Cu_3?x Ru _x O_7?δ phase up to x=0.05 was observed. The effect of magnetic field up to 4.4?kG on the electrical resistivity behavior of the prepared samples was studied to investigate the flux motion of this phase. The derived flux pinning energy?U, based on the thermally activated flux creep TAFC model, decreased with increasing the magnetic field?B. The flux pinning energy followed the exponent behavior as U(B)～B ^?β . The superconducting transition width ΔT increased as the magnetic field increased, showing the scaling relation as ΔT～B ⁿ . Using Ambegaokar and Halperin AH theory, the magnetic field and temperature dependence of U was found to be U(B,T)～ΔTB ^?η , η=β+n. The critical current density J _c (0) enhanced up to x=0.05, beyond which it decreased with further increase in Ru-content.     

Effect of Short-Range Ferromagnetic Ordering on the Electrical Transport Properties of (La0.9Bi0.1)2/3Ca1/3MnO3 in the Magnetic Field up to 40 T

The temperature and magnetic field dependence of the resistance of polycrystalline sample (La_0.9Bi_0.1)_2/3Ca_1/3MnO₃ was investigated in pulsed high magnetic field up to 40 T over a wide temperature region. In order to describe the magnetotransport properties of the sample, an extended Mott hopping conduction model was employed. Instead of B _J (gμ _B J(T)B/k _B T) in the ferromagnetic (FM) state and $B_{J}^{2}(g\mu_{B}J(T)B/k_{B}T)$ in the paramagnetic (PM) state, the magnetic field dependence of the resistance could scale nicely with the Brillouin function B _J (gμ _B J(T)B/k _B T) in all the given temperatures (above and below the Curie temperature T _c ). The deduced value of the average spin moment J(T) increases with the increasing of the temperature and reaches the maximum value (～35) around T _c . The large value of J(T) indicate the presence of magnetic clusters in the sample which is induced by the short-range ferromagnetic ordering, however, compared to the un-doped compound La_2/3Ca_1/3MnO₃, the value of J(T) is much smaller, which might be ascribe to the location of the 6s² lone pair electrons of Bi³⁺ ions in the sample (La_0.9Bi_0.1)_2/3Ca_1/3MnO₃.     

Thermal stability and transport studies of (100 − 2x)TeO2-xAg2O-xWO3 (7.5 ≤ x ≤ 30) glass system

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), infrared (IR) and direct current (DC) conductivity studies have been carried out on (100 − 2x)TeO₂-xAg₂O-xWO₃ (7.5 ≤ x ≤ 30) glass system. The IR studies show that the structure of glass network consists of [TeO₄], [TeO₃]/[TeO₃₊₁], [WO₄] units. Thermal properties such as the glass transition (T_g), onset crystallization (T_o), thermal stability (ΔT), glass transition width (ΔT_g), heat capacities in the glassy and liquid state (C_pg and C_pl), heat capacity change (ΔC_p) and ratios C_pl/C_pg of the glass systems were calculated. The highest thermal stability (237 °C) obtained in 55TeO₂-22.5Ag₂O-22.5WO₃ glass suggests that this new glass may be a potentially useful candidate material host for rare earth doped optical fibers. The DC conductivity of glasses was measured in temperature region 27-260 °C, the activation energy (E_act) values varied from 1.393 to 0.272 eV and for the temperature interval 170-260 °C, the values of conductivity (σ) of glasses varied from 8.79 × 10⁻⁹ to 1.47 × 10⁻⁶ S cm⁻¹.     

Effect of bead milling on heat generation ability in AC magnetic field of FeFe2O4 powder

Nano-sized FeFe₂O₄ ferrite powder having a heat generation ability in an AC magnetic field was prepared by bead milling for a thermal coagulation therapy application. A commercial powder sample (non-milled sample) of ca. 2.0 μm in particle size showed a temperature enhancement (ΔT) of 3 °C in an AC magnetic field (powder weight 1.0 g, 370 kHz, 1.77 kA m⁻¹) in ambient air. The heat generation ability in the AC magnetic field improved with the milling time, i.e., due to a decrease in the average crystallite size for all the examined ferrites. The highest heat ability (ΔT = 26 °C) in the AC magnetic field in ambient air was for the fine FeFe₂O₄ powder with a 4.7 nm crystallite size (the samples were milled for 6 h using 0.1 mm? beads). However, the heat generation ability decreased for the excessively milled FeFe₂O₄ samples having average crystallite sizes of less than ca. 4.0 nm. The heat generation of the samples showed some dependence on the hysteresis loss for the B–H magnetic property. The reasons for the high heat generation properties of the milled samples would be ascribed to an increase in the Néel relaxation of the superparamagnetic material. The hysteresis loss in the B–H magnetic curve would be generated as the magnetic moment rotates (Néel relaxation) within the crystal. The heat generation ability (W g⁻¹) can be estimated using a 1.07 × 10⁻⁴fH² frequency (f, kHz) and the magnetic field (H, kA m⁻¹) for the samples milled for 6 h using 0.1 mm? beads. Moreover, an improvement in the heating ability was obtained by calcination of the bead-milled sample at low temperature. The maximum heat generation (ΔT = 59 °C) ability in the AC magnetic field in ambient air was obtained at ca. 5.6 nm for the sample calcined at 500 °C. The heat generation ability (W g⁻¹) for this heat treated sample was 2.54 × 10⁻⁴fH².     

Conductivity study of solid polyelectrolytes based on hydroiodide salt of poly(4-vinyl pyridine-co-butylmethacrylate), poly(4-vinyl pyridine-co-butylacrylate)

The chain flexibility of poly(4-vinylpyridine) was tried to increase by lowering its glass transition temperature ( T _g ) and by increasing its amorphous region by copolymerizing with butyl methacrylate and butylacrylate which act as internal plasticizer. The copolymers were prepared in five different feed molar ratios to optimize the required properties such as higher room temperature conductivity and better film-forming capacity. The conductivity and conduction behaviour of the copolymers, as well as their hydroiodide salts have been reported. There was about 10³–10⁴-fold increase in room temperature conductivity of these plasticized polyelectrolytes.     

Magnetoresistance Study of Y3Ba5Cu8O18 Superconducting Phase Substituted by Nd3+ and Ca2+ Ions

Superconducting samples of type Y_3?x Nd _x Ba_5?x Ca _x Cu₈O₁₈ with 0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.4 have been prepared via the solid-state reaction technique. The prepared samples were characterized using X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) technique for phase analysis. The elemental content of the prepared samples was determined using particle-induced X-ray emission (PIXE). In addition, the oxygen content of these samples was obtained using non-Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy (RBS) at 3 MeV proton beam. The results indicate that these substitutions do not affect the orthorhombic structure, while they decrease the oxygen content of Y-358 phase. The electrical resistivity of the prepared samples was measured by the conventional four-probe technique from room temperature down to the zero superconducting transition temperature (T ₀). A slight change in the superconducting transition temperature (T _c) is observed for 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.1, and then it decreases linearly with further increase in x. The linear decrease in T _c is attributed mainly to the partial substitution of Ba²⁺ ions by Ca²⁺ ions rather than the partial substitution of Y³⁺ ions by Nd³⁺ ions. The effect of magnetic fields up to 4.44 kG on the electrical resistivity has been studied to investigate the vortex dynamics for the prepared samples. The experimental data, in the second stage of superconducting transition, fit well with the thermally activated flux creep (TAFC) model, and the activation energy U(B) shows a power law dependence on magnetic field as B ^?β . Also, the transition width is related to the magnetic field according to the relation ΔT α B ⁿ . The values of β and n are strongly dependent on the Nd³⁺ and Ca²⁺ ion substitution. The magnetic field and temperature dependence of the activation energy U(B, T) is found to be U(B, T)? ΔT B ^?η , where η = β + n. Furthermore, the critical current density at zero temperature, J _c(0), as a function of the applied field was calculated for all the prepared samples. The result shows an enhancement in J _c(0) of Y-358 phase at x equals 0.4 at different applied fields.     

Low-temperature magnetic behavior of HoRh4B4

Detailed measurements of the magnetization of HoRh₄B₄ and GdRh₄B₄ near the magnetic transition temperature are presented. In contrast to the ferromagnetic behavior of GdRh₄B₄, no spontaneous magnetization is found to develop below T _min HoRh₄B₄. This raises doubts about the nature of the magnetic order in that material as well as in DyRh₄B₄ and TbRh₄B₄. Anisotropy and time dependence of the magnetization are found in these last three compounds. The behavior of the very small remanent magnetization and of the paramagnetic susceptibility of HoRh₄B₄ is shown. These results point to a complex magnetic order, possibly helical or sinusoidal antiferromagnetism with a long wavelength.Partially supported by a grant from the Swiss National Science Foundation.Research in La Jolla supported by National Science Foundation Grant No. DMR77-08467.     

Dielectric and electric studies of the [N(CH3)4][N(C2H5)4]ZnCl4 compound at low temperature

The [N(CH₃)₄][N(C₂H₅)₄]ZnCl₄ compound was prepared and characterized by electrical technique. The temperature dependence of the dielectric permittivity shows that this compound is ferroelectric below T = 268 K. The two semi-circles observed in the complex impedance identify the presence of the grain interior and grain boundary contributions to the electrical response in the material. The equivalent circuit is modeled by a combination series of two parallel R_P–CPE circuits. The frequency dependent conductivity is interpreted in term of Jonscher's law. The modulus plots can be characterized by the empirical Kohlrausch–Williams–Watts (K.W.W.) function: ?(t) = exp [(−t/τ)^β]. The temperature dependence of the alternative current conductivity (σ_p), direct current conductivity (σ_dc) and the relaxation frequency (f_p) confirm the presence of the ferroelectric–paraelectric phase transition.     

Synthesis, structural and magnetic characterization of iron-zinc-borate glass ceramics containing nanocrystalline zinc ferrite

Two different glass ceramics with the composition of the (Fe₂O₃)_x·(B₂O₃)_(60−x)·(ZnO)₄₀, where x = 12.5 and 15 mol%, have been synthesized using the melt-quench method. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns show the presence of nanometric zinc ferrite (ZnFe₂O₄) crystals, with spinel structure, in a glassy matrix after cooling from melting temperature. The estimated amount of crystallized zinc ferrite varies between 16 and 35%, as a function of the chemical composition. Glass transition (T_g), crystallization (T_p) and melting (T_m) temperatures were determined by differential thermal analysis (DTA) investigations. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) data revealed that the BO₃ and BO₄ are the main structural units of these glass ceramics network. FTIR spectra of these samples show features at characteristic vibration frequencies of ZnFe₂O₄. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) measurements show the presence of isolated Fe³⁺ ions predominantly situated in rhombic vicinities and as well as the Fe³⁺ species interacting by dipole–dipole interaction or to their superexchange coupled pairs in clustered formations. The magnetic properties of the studied glass ceramics were investigated by vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). From the magnetization curves for glass ceramic containing 15 mol% Fe₂O₃ it was found that the nanoparticles exhibit ferromagnetic interactions combined with superparamagnetism with a blocking temperature, T_B. For studied samples the hysteresis is present. The coercive field is dependent on composition and magnetic field being around 0.05 μ_B/f.u for measurements performed in maximum 0.4 T.