Tuning the structural and magnetic properties of Sr 2 FeReO 6 by substituting Fe and Re with valence invariant metals

In the course of this work the effect of metal substitution on the structural and magnetic properties of the double perovskites Sr2MM’O6 (M = Fe, substituted by Cr, Zn and Ga; M’ = Re, substituted by Sb) was explored by means of X-ray diffraction, magnetic measurements, band structure calculations, Mößbauer spectroscopy and conductivity measurements. The focus of this study was the determination of (i) the kind and structural boundary conditions of the magnetic interaction between the M and M’ cations and (ii) the conditions for the principal application of double perovskites as spintronic materials by means of the band model approach. Strong correlations between the electronic, structural and magnetic properties have been found during the study of the double perovskites Sr2Fe1-xMxReO6 (0 < x < 1, M = Zn, Cr). The interplay between van Hove-singularity and Fermi level plays a crucial role for the magnetic properties. Substitution of Fe by Cr in Sr2FeReO6 leads to a non-monotonic behaviour of the saturation magnetization (MS) and an enhancement for substitution levels up to 10 %. The Curie temperatures (TC) monotonically increase from 401 to 616 K. In contrast, Zn substitution leads to a continuous decrease of MS and TC. The diamagnetic dilution of the Fe-sublattice by Zn leads to a transition from an itinerant ferrimagnetic to a localized ferromagnetic material. Thus, Zn substitution inhibits the long-range ferromagnetic interaction within the Fe-sublattice and preserves the long-range ferromagnetic interaction within the Re-sublattice. Superimposed on the electronic effects is the structural influence which can be explained by size effects modelled by the tolerance factor t. In the case of Cr substitution, a tetragonal – cubic transformation for x > 0.4 is observed. For Zn substituted samples the tetragonal distortion linearly increases with increasing Zn content. In order to elucidate the nature of the magnetic interaction between the M and M’ cations, Fe and Re were substituted by the valence invariant main group metals Ga and Sb, respectively. X-ray diffraction reveals Sr2FeRe1-xSbxO6 (0 < x < 0.9) to crystallize without antisite disorder in the tetragonal distorted perovskite structure (space group I4/mmm). The ferrimagnetic behaviour of the parent compound Sr2FeReO6 changes to antiferromagnetic upon Sb substitution as determined by magnetic susceptibility measurements. Samples up to a doping level of 0.3 are ferrimagnetic, while Sb contents higher than 0.6 result in an overall antiferromagnetic behaviour. 57Fe Mößbauer results show a coexistence of ferri- and antiferromagnetic clusters within the same perovskite-type crystal structure in the Sb substitution range 0.3 < x < 0.8, whereas Sr2FeReO6 and Sr2FeRe0.9Sb0.1O6 are “purely” ferrimagnetic and Sr2FeRe0.1Sb0.9O6 contains antiferromagnetically ordered Fe sites only. Consequently, a replacement of the Re atoms by a nonmagnetic main group element such as Sb blocks the double exchange pathways Fe–O–Re(Sb)–O–Fe along the crystallographic axis of the perovskite unit cell and destroys the itinerant magnetism of the parent compound. The structural and magnetic characterization of Sr2Fe1-xGaxReO6 (0 < x < 0.7) exhibit a Ga/Re antisite disorder which is unexpected because the parent compound Sr2FeReO6 shows no Fe/Re antisite disorder. This antisite disorder strongly depends on the Ga content of the sample. Although the X-ray data do not hint at a phase separation, sample inhomogeneities caused by a demixing are observed by a combination of magnetic characterization and Mößbauer spectroscopy. The 57Fe Mößbauer data suggest the formation of two types of clusters, ferrimagnetic Fe- and paramagnetic Ga-based ones. Below 20 % Ga content, Ga statistically dilutes the Fe–O–Re–O–Fe double exchange pathways. Cluster formation begins at x = 0.2, for 0.2 < x < 0.4 the paramagnetic Ga-based clusters do not contain any Fe. Fe containing Ga-based clusters which can be detected by Mößbauer spectroscopy firstly appear for x = 0.4.

Varying spin state composition by the choice of capping ligand in a family of molecular chains: detailed analysis of magnetic properties of chromium(III) horseshoes

We report a detailed physical analysis on a family of isolated, antiferro-magnetically (AF) coupled, chromium(III) finite chains, of general formula (Cr(RCO(2))(2)F)(n) where the chain length n = 6 or 7. Additionally, the chains are capped with a selection of possible terminating ligands, including hfac (= 1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoropentane-2,4-dionate(1-)), acac (= pentane-2,4-dionate(1-)) or (F)(3). Measurements by inelastic neutron scattering (INS), magnetometery and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy have been used to study how the electronic properties are affected by n and capping ligand type. These comparisons allowed the subtle electronic effects the choice of capping ligand makes for odd member spin 3/2 ground state and even membered spin 0 ground state chains to be investigated. For this investigation full characterisation of physical properties have been performed with spin Hamiltonian parameterisation, including the determination of Heisenberg exchange coupling constants and single ion axial and rhombic anisotropy. We reveal how the quantum spin energy levels of odd or even membered chains can be modified by the type of capping ligand terminating the chain. Choice of capping ligands enables Cr-Cr exchange coupling to be adjusted by 0, 4 or 24%, relative to Cr-Cr exchange coupling within the body of the chain, by the substitution of hfac, acac or (F)(3) capping ligands to the ends of the chain, respectively. The manipulation of quantum spin levels via ligands which play no role in super-exchange, is of general interest to the practise of spin Hamilton modelling, where such second order effects are generally not considered of relevance to magnetic properties.

Modification of the magnetic properties of a heterometallic wheel by inclusion of a Jahn-Teller distorted Cu(II) ion

An investigation into the physical consequences of including a Jahn-Teller distorted Cu(II) ion within an antiferromagnetically coupled ring, [R(2)NH(2)][Cr(7)CuF(8)((O(2)C(t)Bu)(16))] is reported. Inelastic neutron scattering (INS) and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopic data are simulated using a microscopic spin Hamiltonian, and show that the two Cr-Cu exchange interactions must be inequivalent. One Cr-Cu exchange is found to be antiferromagnetic and the other ferromagnetic. The geometry of the Jahn-Teller elongation is deduced from these results, and shows that a Jahn-Teller elongation axis must lie in the plane of the Cr(7)Cu wheel; the elongation is not observed by X-ray crystallography, due to positional disorder of the Cu site within the wheel. An electronic structure calculation confirms the structural distortion of the Cu site.

Comparison of magnetic properties and petrography between dykes and lava flows from La Cienega, New Mexico and Thunder Bay area, Canada

Data on the evolution of geomagnetic paleointensity are crucial for understanding the geodynamo and Earth’s thermal history. Although basaltic flows are preferred for paleointensity experiments, quickly cooled mafic dykes have also been used. However, the paleointensity values obtained from the dykes are systematically lower than those from lava flows. This bias may originate from the difference in cooling histories and resultant magnetic mineralogies of extrusive and intrusive rocks. To explore this hypothesis, the magnetic mineralogy of two feeder dyke-lave flow systems, from Thunder Bay (Canada) and La Cienega (New-Mexico), has been studied using magnetic and microscopy methods. Within each system, the flow and dyke show different stages of deuteric oxidation of titanomagnetite, but the oxidation stages also differ between the two systems. It is concluded that the tested hypothesis is viable, but the relationships between the magnetic and mineralogical properties of flows and dykes are complex and need a further investigation.

Controlling electronic and magnetic properties of ultra narrow multilayered nanowires

Interest in the study of magnetic/non-magnetic multilayered structures took a giant leap since Grünberg and his group established that the interlayer exchange coupling (IEC) is a function of the non-magnetic spacer width. This interest was further fuelled by the discovery of the phenomenal Giant Magnetoresistance (GMR) effect. In fact, in 2007 Albert Fert and Peter Grünberg were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for their contribution to the discovery of GMR. GMR is the key property that is being used in the read-head of the present day computer hard drive as it requires a high sensitivity in the detection of magnetic field. The recent increase in demand for device miniaturization encouraged researchers to look for GMR in nanoscale multilayered structures. In this context, one dimensional(1-D) multilayerd nanowire structure has shown tremendous promise as a viable candidate for ultra sensitive read head sensors. In fact, the phenomenal giant magnetoresistance(GMR) effect, which is the novel feature of the currently used multilayered thin film, has already been observed in multilayered nanowire systems at ambient temperature. Geometrical confinement of the supper lattice along the 2-dimensions (2-D) to construct the 1-D multilayered nanowire prohibits the minimization of magnetic interaction- offering a rich variety of magnetic properties in nanowire that can be exploited for novel functionality. In addition, introduction of non-magnetic spacer between the magnetic layers presents additional advantage in controlling magnetic properties via tuning the interlayer magnetic interaction. Despite of a large volume of theoretical works devoted towards the understanding of GMR and IEC in super lattice structures, limited theoretical calculations are reported in 1-D multilayered systems. Thus to gauge their potential application in new generation magneto-electronic devices, in this thesis, I have discussed the usage of first principles density functional theory (DFT) in predicting the equilibrium structure, stability as well as electronic and magnetic properties of one dimensional multilayered nanowires. Particularly, I have focused on the electronic and magnetic properties of Fe/Pt multilayered nanowire structures and the role of non-magnetic Pt spacer in modulating the magnetic properties of the wire. It is found that the average magnetic moment per atom in the nanowire increases monotonically with an ~1/(N(Fe)) dependance, where N(Fe) is the number of iron layers in the nanowire. A simple model based upon the interfacial structure is given to explain the 1/(N(Fe)) trend in magnetic moment obtained from the first principle calculations. A new mechanism, based upon spin flip with in the layer and multistep electron transfer between the layers, is proposed to elucidate the enhancement of magnetic moment of Iron atom at the Platinum interface. The calculated IEC in the Fe/Pt multilayered nanowire is found to switch sign as the width of the non-magnetic spacer varies. The competition among short and long range direct exchange and the super exchange has been found to play a key role for the non-monotonous sign in IEC depending upon the width of the Platinum spacer layer. The calculated magnetoresistance from Julliere's model also exhibit similar switching behavior as that of IEC. The universality of the behavior of exchange coupling has also been looked into by introducing different non-magnetic spacers like Palladium, Copper, Silver, and Gold in between magnetic Iron layers. The nature of hybridization between Fe and other non-magnetic spacer is found to dictate the inter layer magnetic interaction. For example, in Fe/Pd nanowire the d-p hybridization in two spacer layer case favors anti-ferromagnetic (AFM) configuration over ferromagnetic (FM) configuration. However, the hybridization between half-filled Fe(d) and filled Cu(p) state in Fe/Cu nanowire favors FM coupling in the 2-spacer system.