Magnetic phase diagram of Co x Zn1–x Cr2S4 solid solutions

Abstract

Using experimental data, we have constructed a magnetic phase diagram of Co x Zn1–x Cr2S4 spinel solid solutions. According to the phase diagram, the Co x Zn1–x Cr2S4 system has four magnetically active regions: paramagnetic, ferrimagnetic, antiferromagnetic, and spin glass. The CoCr2S4-based ferrimagnetic thiochromite solid solutions exist in the widest composition range (not counting the paramagnetic region): 0.31 ≤ x < 1.0. Lowering the temperature leads to a reentrant and a spin-glass transition of these materials. The next in area is a metastable region: 0.12 ≤ x ≤ 0.31. In this composition range, a pure spin glass transition occurs from the paramagnetic region. ZnCr2S4-based antiferromagnetic thiochromite materials exist in the narrowest composition range: 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.12.