Ac Magnetic Susceptibility Research Articles

Structural comparison of [Ce(OtBu)Cl(THF)5](BPh4) to smaller rare earth analogues.

The introduction of the cerium(III) analogue (1-Ce, Ln = Ce) of (tert-butoxido)chloridopentakis(tetrahydrofuran)lanthanide(III) tetraphenylborate tetrahydrofuran disolvate, [Ln{OC(CH3)3}Cl(C4H8O)5][B(C6H5)4]·2C4H8O or [Ln(OtBu)Cl(THF)5](BPh4)·2THF (1-Ln) has been achieved with a structural comparison between the existing solid-state structures of other rare earth analogues and the title compound at 100 and 180 K. The cation in 1-Ce is targeted as the cerium(III) ion possesses the criteria to exhibit slow magnetic relaxation in axial point-charge crystal fields, akin to the dysprosium(III) ion in 1-Dy. AC magnetic susceptibility experiments reveal no such behaviour for 1-Ce, putting the viability of cerium-based SMMs into question.

Cluster spin glass behaviour of Co2+−Al3+ layered double hydroxides

Frequency-dependent magnetic behaviour of cobalt-aluminium layered double hydroxides (LDH) with the Co/Al ratio of 2 and 3, was studied between 2 and 300 K. It was found from analysis of the temperature-dependent ac magnetic susceptibility that these LDH exhibit a magnetic cluster spin glass behaviour regardless of their basal spacing value and the Co/Al ratio as evidenced by EA/kBT0 > 1 relation obtained using Vogel-Fulcher law. The obtained values of Mydosh parameters in the range of 0.017–0.052 suggest that some of these materials are not far from the canonical spin glasses, implying a rather small size of the magnetic clusters.

Size Effects on the Magnetic Properties of a System of ε-Fe2O3 Nanoparticles Embedded in a SiO2 Xerogel Matrix

A representative series of samples consisting of fine ε-Fe2O3 nanoparticles uniformly distributed over the SiO2 xerogel matrix with an iron oxide content of 5‒33 wt % has been synthesized and studied by mutually complementary physical methods. It has been shown by the X-ray diffractometry and high-resolution electron microscopy examination that, with increasing iron oxide concentration, the average particle size <d> increases from 4 to 11 nm. According to the X-ray diffractometry and Mӧssbauer spectroscopy data, the samples with an iron oxide content of 5–20 wt % are single-phase, while at the highest Fe2O3 concentration (33 wt %), the β-Fe2O3 and α-Fe2O3 phases arise. As the average particle size <d> increases, a monotonic increase in coercivity HC and remanent magnetization MR of the synthesized systems at room temperature is observed, which is indicative of their magnetic hysteresis. The magnetic transition known to occur in the ε–Fe2O3 oxide manifests itself in all the investigated samples as a drastic change in the HC and MR values at 150–75 K. At the same time, a thorough analysis of the temperature dependence of the real part of the ac magnetic susceptibility χ′ has shown that the particles with a size smaller than a critical value of dC ∼ 6.5 nm do not undergo the magnetic transition and have a much lower magnetic anisotropy constant as compared with coarser particles (d >dC). It has been found that, in the low-temperature region, the magnetic moments of these fine particles experience superparamagnetic blocking. It has been established that the size effects that arise in ultra-fine ε–Fe2O3 particles has a serious impact on the macroscopic magnetic properties of the highly dispersed systems based on them.

Superparamagnetic Relaxation in Ensembles of Ultrasmall Ferrihydrite Nanoparticles

The paper examines the impact of interparticle interactions on the superparamagnetic relaxation of ultrasmall nanoparticle ensembles, using Fe2O3∙nH2O iron oxyhydroxide (ferrihydrite) nanoparticles as an example. Two samples were analyzed: ferrihydrite of biogenic origin (with an average particle size of d ≈ 2.7 nm) with a natural organic shell, and a sample (with d ≈ 3.5 nm) that underwent low-temperature annealing, during which the organic shell was partially removed. The DC and AC magnetic susceptibilities (χ′(T), χ′′(T)) in a small magnetic field in the superparamagnetic (SPM) blocking region of the nanoparticles were measured. The results show that an increase in interparticle interactions leads to an increase in the SPM blocking temperature from 28 to 52 K according to DC magnetization data. It is shown that below the SPM blocking temperature, magnetic interactions of nanoparticles lead to the formation of a collective state similar to spin glass in bulk materials. The scaling approach reveals that the dynamics of correlated magnetic moments on the particle surface slow down with increasing interparticle interactions. Simulation of χ′′(T) dependence has shown that the dissipation of magnetic energy occurs in two stages. The first stage is directly related to the blocking of the magnetic moment of nanoparticles, while the second stage reflects the spin-glass behavior of surface spins and strongly depends on the strength of interparticle interactions.

Investigation of slow magnetic relaxation in a series of 1D polymeric cyclobutane-1,1-dicarboxylates based on LnIIIVIV2 units (LnIII = Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb): rare examples of VIV-4f single-molecule magnets.

The reactions of VOSO4·3H2O with Na2(cbdc) (cbdc2- - dianion of cyclobutane-1,1-dicarboxylic acid) and lanthanide(III) nitrates taken in a molar ratio of 1 : 2 : 1 were found to yield a series of isostructural heterometallic compounds [NaLn(VO)2(cbdc)4(H2O)10]n (1Ln, Ln = Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb). These compounds are constructed from trinuclear anionic units [Ln(VO)2(cbdc)4(H2O)8]- ({LnV2}-) linked by Na+ ions into 1D polymeric chains. The crystal structures of 1Dy and 1Er were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD), and their isostructurality with 1Tb, 1Ho, 1Tm, and 1Yb was proved by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD). According to alternating current (ac) magnetic susceptibility measurements, 1Dy, 1Er, and 1Yb exhibited field-induced slow relaxation of magnetization. Compound 1Er is the first representative of ErIII-VIV single-molecule magnets. Measuring the temperature dependences of the phase memory time (Tm) for 1Dy and 1Yb using pulsed EPR spectroscopy allowed us to observe the phenomenon of phase relaxation enhancement (PRE) at temperatures below 30 K. In future, this phenomenon may contribute to the evaluation of relaxation times of the lanthanide ions.

Critical current density and AC magnetic susceptibility of high-quality FeTe0.5Se0.5 superconducting tapes

Iron telluride-selenium superconducting materials, known for their non-toxicity, ease of preparation, simple structure, and high upper critical fields, have attracted much research interest in practical application. In this work, we conducted electrical transport measurements, magneto-optical imaging, and AC magnetic susceptibility measurements on FeTe0.5Se0.5 superconducting long tapes fabricated via reel-to-reel pulsed laser deposition. Our transport measurements revealed a high critical current density that remains relatively stable even with increasing external magnetic fields, reaching over 1 × 105 A/cm2 at 8 K and 9 T. The calculated pinning force density indicates that normal point pinning is the primary mechanism in these tapes. The magneto-optical images demonstrated that the tapes show homogeneous superconductivity and uniform distribution of critical current density. The AC magnetic susceptibility measurements also confirmed their strong flux pinning nature of withstanding high magnetic field. Based on these characteristics, FeTe0.5Se0.5 superconducting tapes show promising prospects for applications under high magnetic field.

Ni4Nb1.8W0.1Ti0.1O9: Stabilization of the I-Type Ni4Nb2O9 Structure and First Magnetic Study of This Corundum-like Compound.

For the first time, we report on the structural and magnetic properties of a polycrystalline sample of Ni4Nb2O9 from I-type (Fdd2), obtained by the partial cosubstitution of Nb5+ by Ti4+ and W6+. The crystal structure is investigated by combining synchrotron X-ray, neutron, and electron diffraction at room temperature. This I-type structure is derived from the corundum-like Ni4Nb2O9 II-type (Pbcn) and is noncentrosymmetric and polar. The Ni-lattice is composed of the stacking of distorted honeycomb layers with double zigzag ribbons 60° disoriented from each other in two successive double layers. The connection between layers is ensured by the sharing of octahedra faces building (Nb,W,Ti)2O9, Ni2O9, and Ni3O12 units. This study shows how the disruption of the Nb2O6 units by smaller d0 cations impacts the structure, significantly modifying the Ni network and, thus, the magnetic properties. The latter were studied by dc- and ac-magnetic susceptibility, and the magnetic structure was solved by neutron powder diffraction. A ferrimagnetic behavior occurs below 68 K, followed by a re-entrant spin-glass-like behavior below ≈50 K.

Magnetic properties of binary alloys Ni[formula omitted]Mo[formula omitted] and Ni[formula omitted]Cu[formula omitted] close to critical concentrations

The search for the ferromagnetic quantum critical point (FM QCP) has always been a captivating research topic in the scientific community. In pursuit of this goal, we introduced nonmagnetic transition metals to alloy with elemental nickel, and studied the magnetic properties of nickel binary alloys Ni1−xMox and Ni1−yCuy as a function of x and y up to the critical concentrations xcr and ycr at which the FM transition TC disappears. TC−x(y) phase diagrams were constructed via the Arrott–Noakes scaling of magnetization data. An enhanced Sommerfeld coefficient (the value of C/T as T→0) is observed near xcr and ycr, manifesting the effect of quantum fluctuations. However, the spin glass behavior is identified through the ac magnetic susceptibility measurements. This observation rules out the possibility of the existence of the FM QCP in both systems.

Pressure tuning of the Se-substituted BiS2-based superconductor LaO0.5F0.5Bi(S1−xSex)2

Abstract We report the effect of hydrostatic pressure on LaO0.5F0.5Bi(S 1 − x Se x )2 with chemical pressure applied to a conducting layer by means of electrical resistivity and ac-magnetic susceptibility measurements up to 2.5 GPa. We confirmed the bulk superconductive nature of the low superconducting (low-SC) and high superconducting (high-SC) phase using ac-magnetic susceptibility under hydrostatic pressure. The T c of the high-SC phase was observed to decrease with an increase in the Se substitution. The critical pressure P c shifted toward the higher P and the P-induced transition broadened with an increase in the Se content. The T c of the low-SC phase can be expressed by assuming an applied hydrostatic pressure of 0.75 GPa as the Se substitution of x = 0.1. The broad P c transition is likely to be ascribed to the inhomogeneity of the Se substitution.

Complex magnetic ordering in the noncentrosymmetric metal PrCuGe3

We report on the successful synthesis of PrCuGe3 which crystallizes in the tetragonal BaNiSn3-type structure (space group: I4mm) with lattice parameters, a = 4.1470(2) Å and c = 10.185(3) Å. The material is characterized using dc magnetic susceptibility χ(T), ac magnetic susceptibility χac(T), isothermal magnetization M(B), specific heat Cp(T), and electrical resistivity ρ(T) measurements. PrCuGe3 undergoes a long-range ferromagnetic ordering at TC = 23 K, which is followed by another transition below Ttr = 17 K. TC has a quite small anomaly in Cp(T) and ρ(T) despite displaying large associated anomalies in both χ(T) and χac(T) and a sizable ferromagnetic ordered moment. Instead the transition at Ttr has a much larger anomaly in Cp(T) and ρ(T) but essentially no signal in χ(T) and χac(T). Such observations in PrCuGe3 are nontrivial. A Sommerfeld coefficient γ = 375 mJ/(mol K2) is extracted from specific heat which indicates a significant enhancement of the quasi-particle mass at low temperature. Hence, PrCuGe3 exemplifies a system with the coexistence of complex magnetic ordering and a putative heavy-fermion state.

Metal-Halide Covalency, Exchange Coupling, and Slow Magnetic Relaxation in Triangular (CpiPr5)3U3X6 (X = Cl, Br, I) Clusters.

The actinide elements are attractive alternatives to transition metals or lanthanides for the design of exchange-coupled multinuclear single-molecule magnets. However, the synthesis of such compounds is challenging, as is unraveling any contributions from exchange coupling to the overall magnetism. To date, only a few actinide compounds have been shown to exhibit exchange coupling and single-molecule magnetism. Here, we report triangular uranium(III) clusters of the type (CpiPr5)3U3X (1-X; X = Cl, Br, I; CpiPr5 = pentaisopropylcyclopentadienyl), which are synthesized via reaction of the aryloxide-bridged precursor (CpiPr5)2U2(OPhtBu)4 with excess Me3SiX. Spectroscopic analysis suggests the presence of covalency in the uranium-halide interactions arising from 5f orbital participation in bonding. The dc magnetic susceptibility data reveal the presence of antiferromagnetic exchange coupling between the uranium(III) centers in these compounds, with the strength of the exchange decreasing down the halide series. Ac magnetic susceptibility data further reveal all compounds to exhibit slow magnetic relaxation under zero dc field. In 1-I, which exhibits particularly weak exchange, magnetic relaxation occurs via a Raman mechanism associated with the individual uranium(III) centers. In contrast, for 1-Br and 1-Cl, magnetic relaxation occurs via an Orbach mechanism, likely involving relaxation between ground and excited exchange-coupled states. Significantly, in the case of 1-Cl, magnetic relaxation is sufficiently slow such that open magnetic hysteresis is observed up to 2.75 K, and the compound exhibits a 100-s blocking temperature of 2.4 K. This compound provides the first example of magnetic blocking in a compound containing only actinide-based ions, as well as the first example involving the uranium(III) oxidation state.

Anomalous upper critical field in the quasicrystal superconductor Ta1.6Te

Superconductivity in quasicrystals poses a new challenge in condensed matter physics. We measured the resistance and ac magnetic susceptibility of a Ta1.6Te dodecagonal quasicrystal, which is superconducting below Tc ~ 1 K. We show that the upper critical field increases linearly with a large slope of − 4.4 T/K with decreasing temperature down to 0.04 K, with no tendency to level off. The extrapolated zero-temperature critical field exceeds the Pauli limit by a factor of 2.3. We also observed flux-flow resistance with thermally activated behavior and an irreversibility field that is distinct from the upper critical field. We discuss these peculiarities in terms of the nonuniform superconducting gap and spin-orbit interaction in quasicrystal structures.

Disordered magnetic ground state in a quasi-1-D d4columnar iridate Sr3LiIrO6.

Spin-orbit coupling (SOC) offers a large variety of novel and extraordinary magnetic and electronic properties in otherwise 'ordinary pool' of heavy ion oxides. Here we present a detailed study on an apparently isolated hexagonal 2Hspin-chain d4iridate Sr3LiIrO6(SLIO) with geometric frustration. Our structural studies reveal Li-Ir chemical order with desired stoichiometry in this compound, while x-ray absorption together with x-ray photoemission spectroscopic characterizations establish pure 5+ valence of Ir. We have established a magnetic ground state with finite Ir5+magnetic moments in this compound, contrary to the anticipated nonmagnetic Jeff= 0 state, through combined dc susceptibility,7Li nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), muon spin relaxation (μSR) and ab-initio electronic structure studies. These investigations together with ac magnetic susceptibility and specific heat measurements reveal that despite having noticeable antiferromagnetic correlation among the Ir5+local moments, this system does not magnetically order down to at least 0.05 K, possibly due to geometrical exchange frustration, arising from the comparable nearest- and next-nearest-neighbor interchain Ir-O-O-Ir superexchange interaction strengths with opposite signs. However, the zero-field (ZF) μSR analysis shows emergence of a considerable proportion of spin-freezing on top of a spin-fluctuating dynamic magnetic background down to the lowest measured&#xD;temperature of 1.7 K, possibly due to some inhomogeneity and/or the much stronger intra-column Ir-Ir magnetic exchange interaction&#xD;strength relative to the inter-column Ir-Ir ones. The linear temperature dependence of the magnetic specific heat (Cm) in both zero and applied magnetic fields, plus the power-law behavior of the NMR spin-lattice relaxation rate suggest a gapless spinon density of states in this charge gapped disordered magnetic ground state of Sr3LiIrO6.

The effect of the outer-sphere cations on the photophysical and magnetic properties of rare earth complexes with 2,2,2-trichloro-N-(diphenylphosphoryl)acetamide

Two series of rare earth coordination compounds have been synthesized (Na[RE(L4)] (labeled as 1RE) and PPh4[RE(L4)] (labeled as 2RE), where RE = Y3+, Eu3+, Tb3+, L = 2,2,2-trichloro-N-(diphenylphosphoryl)acetamide) to determine the possibility of modifying their photophysical and magnetical properties by changing the counterion. The crystal structure of 1RE was determined based on the single-crystal X-ray diffraction and the crystal structure of 2RE was determined based on quantum chemistry computational procedures. Characterization of the physicochemical properties of the compounds was carried out using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), 1H and 31P NMR spectroscopy as well as FT-IR, absorption and luminescence spectroscopy in the temperature range of 300 - 77 K. The rate constants of radiative (Arad) and non-radiative (Anrad) transitions, intrinsic (QLnLn) and overall (QLnL) emission quantum yields, sensitization efficiency (ηsens), the experimental and theoretical intensity parameters (Ωλ), the forward (WS, WT) and backward (WbS, WbT) intramolecular energy transfer (IET) rates were determined. Magnetic properties of Tb3+ compounds were studied in a constant field of 0.5 T in the temperature range of 1.8–300 K. Dynamic AC magnetic susceptibility measurements were carried out as a function of temperature and frequency for 1Tb and 2Tb. Only in the case of 2Tb, in the presence of an external DC field, a slight temperature dependence of in-phase χ′ and out-of-phase χ'' susceptibility was recorded. Based on experimental and theoretical results, the significant effect of counterion on the photophysical and magnetic properties of RE chelates has been demonstrated and clarified, providing valuable guidance for the design of bifunctional electromagnetic radiation converters.

Bimetallic Ba(II)-Cr(III) and trimetallic Ba(II)-Ln(III)-Cr(III) (Ln(III) = Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Yb, Y) coordination polymers formed by Cr(III)-containing building blocks with cyclopropane-1,1-dicarboxylate anions

The reaction of chromium(III) nitrate with Ba(cpdc) (H2cpdc = cyclopropane-1,1-dicarboxylic acid) in a ratio of 1:3 yielded a 1D coordination polymer {[Ba2Cr2(OH)2(cpdc)4(H2O)8]·5H2O}n (1) formed by binuclear units [Cr2(OH)2(cpdc)4]4− and a 3D polymer [Ba2Cr(cpdc)3(NO3)(H2O)6]n (2) constructed from tris-chelate blocks [Cr(cpdc)3]3−. The addition of rare-earth metal nitrates (Cr:Ln = 1:2) in this reaction led to the formation of a series of trimetallic 3D coordination polymers {[Ba3Ln2Cr4(cpdc)12(H2O)24]·8H2O}n (3Ln, Ln = Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Yb, Y), in whose structures tris-chelate fragments [Cr(cpdc)3]3− are bound in layers by Ln3+ ions and, further, in a framework due to the coordination of Ba2+ ions. The crystal structures of 1, 2, and 3Gd were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD), and isostructurality of all the compounds in the series 3Ln was proved by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD). DC-magnetic susceptibility measurements revealed weak ferromagnetic exchange interactions between Cr3+ ions in compound 1 (J = +0.74 cm−1). According to ac-magnetic susceptibility measurements, complexes 3Er and 3Y exhibit field-induced slow relaxation of magnetization. According to the data of simultaneous thermal analysis (STA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) performed under Ar atmosphere, dehydration of the compounds obtained takes place in one (for 1 and 3Gd) or three stages (for 2). The initial temperature of the organic part degradation process decreases when moving from compound 1 containing dimerized bis-chelate fragments [Cr2(OH)2(cpdc)4]4− (330 °C) to compounds 2 (276 °C) and 3Gd (261 °C) based on tris-chelate units [Cr(cpdc)3]3−.

Cobalt(II) Single-Ion Magnet Coordinated by Double Deprotonation of 2,2'-Bipyridine-6,6'-diol Ligands.

In this study, we synthesized a new Co(II) complex, [NMe4]2[Co(bpyO2)2] (1), using deprotonated 2,2'-bipyridine-6,6'-diol ligands (bpyO2 2-). This compound exhibits a significant zero-field splitting (D) value. The far-infrared magneto spectroscopy and high-frequency and field electron paramagnetic resonance (HFEPR) measurements indicated that compound 1 possesses D = -54.8 cm-1 and E ∼ 0 cm-1. These findings were subsequently confirmed by other experimental data, including DC magnetic susceptibilities and variable temperature and variable magnetic field reduced magnetizations. Additionally, we conducted a series of AC magnetic susceptibility measurements to investigate the kinetics of magnetization relaxation. Below 6.6 K and under zero external magnetic field, fast quantum tunneling of magnetization (QTM) dominates (∼570 Hz), and temperature-independent out-of-phase signals are observed. Above 8.1 K, temperature-dependent behavior is observed. Furthermore, we examined the AC magnetic susceptibility behavior under external magnetic fields ranging from 300 to 4000 G. The effect of QTM is significantly reduced in the presence of an external magnetic field. Temperature-dependent behavior is primarily governed by Raman relaxation. Through structural analysis of compound 1 and a series of pure nitrogen-coordinated single-ion magnets (SIMs), we propose that the oxo substituents from the double-deprotonated form of the 2,2'-bipyridine-6,6'-diol ligands donate their negative charge to the pyridine ring, forming amido anion sites. This triggers a more pronounced out-of-phase signal than that observed in pure pyridine-coordinated compounds. Moreover, we observed intermolecular interactions, including intermolecular hydrogen bonding, which, to some extent, influenced the slow relaxation of molecules. Therefore, we speculate that the slow relaxation phenomenon of compound 1 may be attributed to the combination of oxo back-donating effects and intermolecular interactions.

Unusual superconductivity in crystallographically disordered RT2−xSn2 compounds

The discovery of new superconducting materials represents a complementary and crucial tile to shed light on the mechanism controlling the phenomenon of superconductivity. During the search for new superconducting materials, we discovered a new series of intermetallic compounds with the general composition RZn2−xSn2 (R = La, Ce, Pr, Nd). Their formation and crystal structure have been investigated. The Zn content decreases along the series from ≈ 1.50 in LaZn1.50(1)Sn1.98(2) to ≈ 1.32 in NdZn1.321(8)Sn2.01(2), due to the partial occupation of one of the two Zn sites [the Zn1 (2c) site, which from ≈ 50% in the La compound drops to ≈ 42%, ≈ 37% and ≈ 32% in the Ce, Pr and Nd compounds, respectively]. Both the Zn occupation factor and unit cell volume follow the lanthanide contraction. No such compound has been observed with Sm. AC and DC magnetic susceptibility and transport measurements revealed LaZn1.5Sn2 to undergo a sharp superconducting transition at Tc = 5.5 K. In order to search for further possible superconductive homologues, the lanthanum substituted phases La(Zn,T)2–xSn2 (T = Ti, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Pd, Ag, Pt, Au, Cd; x ≈ 0.5) were also prepared. The crystal structure of the ternary compounds is a disordered defective derivative of the tetragonal CaBe2Ge2-type (tP10, P4/nmm), with a partially occupied Zn Wyckoff site and a disordered Sn position. Three related isostructural series, corresponding to three new prototypes, have been identified; they all contain conventional checkered pyramidal layers characteristic of the archetype. The magnetic and transport properties have been measured for some of these substituted quaternary La compounds and we found that superconductivity is preserved in them but in the orthorhombic compounds or when T was a magnetic transition metal (e.g., Ni or Mn). A slight decrease in Tc down to about 4.0 K was detected as a result of the Zn by T atomic substitution.

Tau-borides (Mnx{Ru,Os,Ir}1-x)23B6: X-ray single crystal and TEM data, physical properties

Investigation (electron microprobe and X-ray powder and single crystal diffraction analyses) of the phase relations in the Mn-rich corner (> 45 at% Mn) of the systems Mn-{Ru,Os,Ir}-B, prompted in all three systems a ternary compound with formula (Mnx{Ru,Os,Ir}1-x)23B6. For the systems Mn-Ru-B, Mn-Ir-B phase equilibria have been determined at 950°C (Ru), 900°C (Ir) revealing in both cases a small homogeneity region at constant B-content (Mn1-xRux)23B6 (0.29 < x < 0.37); (Mn1-xOsx)23B6 (0.33 < x < 0.37), as well as (Mn1-xIrx)23B6 (0.29 < x < 0.34). The crystal structure of the three compounds was determined from single crystal and X-ray powder intensity data analyses to be isotypic with the Cr23B6-type (so-called tau-phase, space group Fm3¯m, No. 225). In all cases Mn atoms fully occupy the 4a site (0,0,0) at the origin of the unit cell. For the 8c site (¼,¼,¼) we observed a random distribution of Mn1-x(PM)x with decreasing PM content (PM stands for a platinum group metal atom) going from Ru to Os and Ir, where Mn atoms fully occupy 8c. Whereas the remaining sites (48h, 32f) show various ratios of the two metal species, boron atoms fully occupy the centers (24e site) of the Archimedean metal atom antiprisms. A transmission electron microscopic study confirms the absence of superstructures related to these metal atom disorder, thus Mn and PM atoms randomly share their sites. The latter is well reflected in the behavior of the electrical resistivity of these compounds, which is dominated by disorder scattering. For (Mn0.6{Ru,Os}0.4)23B6, temperature dependent dc magnetization studies reveal distinct antiferromagnetic-like anomalies at TN ≅ 72 K and 114 K, respectively. Low field dc and ac magnetic susceptibility data of (Mn0.7Ir0.3)23B6 display a distinct ferromagnetic-like transition at TC = 280 K, consistent with a pronounced specific heat anomaly and a rather continuous temperature dependent evolution of magnetic anisotropy effects. Mechanical properties (hardness) characterize the tau phases among rather hard and brittle intermetallics (about 5–6 GPa).

Magnetic short-range order and Griffiths-like phase in the S-1/2 spin-dimer ferromagnet BaCu(SeO3)2

The polycrystals of S = 1/2 spin-dimer compound BaCu(SeO3)2 have been synthesized by using solid-state reaction. Without long-range order, the magnetic susceptibility χ(T) curve presents two anomalies at T1 = 5 K and TG = 58 K due to antiferromagnetic (AFM) short-range order and short-range ferromagnetic (FM) correlations, respectively, which is further supported by the specific heat and electron spin resonance data. The high-temperature χ(T) curve follows the Curie-Weiss law with θCW = 11.3 K, showing the dominant intradimer FM interaction. The magnetization M(H) curve at 2 K is characteristic of an AFM-FM transition at 0.4 T, suggesting the weak interdimer AFM couplings. The density function theory calculations and quantum Monte Carlo simulations allow an estimation of the intradimer and interdimer exchanges with J1/kB = 39.09 K, J2/kB = −1.51 K, and J3/kB = −1.68 K. Interestingly, the χ−1(T) curve within θCW <T <TG deviates downward from paramagnetic Curie-Weiss behavior, mimicking the Griffiths-like phase. This is further supported by the ac magnetic susceptibility and magnetic relaxation measurements. The competing intradimer FM and interdimer AFM exchanges with a subtle ratio between them are proposed to be responsible for the formation of Griffiths-like phase.

AC Magnetic Susceptibility: Mathematical Modeling and Experimental Realization on Poly-Crystalline and Single-Crystalline High-Tc Superconductors YBa2Cu3O7-δ and Bi2-xPbxSr2Ca2Cu3O10+y.

The multifaceted inductive technique of AC magnetic susceptibility (ACMS) provides versatile and reliable means for the investigation of the respective properties of magnetic and superconducting materials. Here, we explore, both mathematically and experimentally, the ACMS set-up, based on four coaxial pick-up coils assembled in the second-derivative configuration, when employed in the investigation of differently shaped superconducting specimens of poly-crystalline YBa2Cu3O7-δ and Bi2-xPbxSr2Ca2Cu3O10+y and single-crystalline YBa2Cu3O7-δ. Through the mathematical modeling of both the ACMS set-up and of linearly responding superconducting specimens, we obtain a closed-form relation for the DC voltage output signal. The latter is translated directly to the so-called extrinsic ACMS of the studied specimen. By taking into account the specific characteristics of the studied high-Tc specimens (such as the shape and dimensions for the demagnetizing effect, porosity for the estimation of the superconducting volume fraction, etc.), we eventually draw the truly intrinsic ACMS of the parent material. Importantly, this is carried out without the need for any calibration specimen. The comparison of the mathematical modeling with the experimental data of the aforementioned superconducting specimens evidences fair agreement.