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At least 865 records · Page 48

Effect of Tuning the Structure on the Optical and Magnetic Properties by Various Transition Metal Doping in ZnO/TM (TM = Fe, FeCo, Cr, and Mn) Thin Films

We have investigated in this work the physical, optical, electronic, and the magnetic behavior (Curie temperature, magnetic moment) of Zn.1-x.MxO (M = Fe 5%, Co 1%, Cr 5%, and Mn 5%), diluted magnetic semiconductors (DMSs). The samples were deposited on glass substrate by the spray pyrolysis technique, and the results of the x-ray diffraction (XRD) of the prepared substrates was used to prove the incorporation of the dopants into the ZnO lattice host; the ferromagnetic and the antiferromagnetic state competitions and their effects on the physical, magnetic, and optical properties, were investigated. The electronic structure and magnetic properties of transition metal (TM) defects, were investigated in detail, by using the Korringa–Kohn–Rostoker (KKR) method combined with the coherent potential approximation (CPA). As a result, doping by TM impurities induce the ferromagnetism with different competitions between the ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic states, which affects the physical properties of the TM (Fe, Fe/Co, Cr, and Mn)-doped ZnO, with a Curie temperature closer to room-temperature ferromagnetic.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Deep melting reveals liquid structural memory and anomalous ferromagnetism in bismuth

As an archetypal semimetal with complex and anisotropic Fermi surface and unusual electric properties (e.g., high electrical resistance, large magnetoresistance, and giant Hall effect), bismuth (Bi) has played a critical role in metal physics. In general, Bi displays diamagnetism with a high volumetric susceptibility (~10 -4 ). Here in this paper, we report unusual ferromagnetism in bulk Bi samples recovered from a molten state at pressures of 1.4–2.5 GPa and temperatures above ~1,250 K. The ferromagnetism is associated with a surprising structural memory effect in the molten state. On heating, low-temperature Bi liquid (L) transforms to a more randomly disordered high-temperature liquid (L') around 1,250 K. By cooling from above 1,250 K, certain structural characteristics of liquid L' are preserved in L. Bi clusters with characteristics of the liquid L' motifs are further preserved through solidification into the Bi-II phase across the pressure-independent melting curve, which may be responsible for the observed ferromagnetism.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Synthesis, engineering, and theory of 2D van der Waals magnets

The recent discovery of magnetism in monolayers of two-dimensional van der Waals materials has opened new venues in materials science and condensed matter physics. Until recently, two-dimensional magnetism remained elusive: Spontaneous magnetic order is a routine instance in three-dimensional materials but it is not a priori guaranteed in the two-dimensional world. Since the 2016 discovery of antiferromagnetism in monolayer FePS 3 by two groups and the subsequent demonstration of ferromagnetic order in monolayer CrI 3 and bilayer Cr 2 Ge 2 Te 6 , the field changed dramatically. Within several years of scientific discoveries focused on 2D magnets, novel opportunities have opened up in the field of spintronics, namely spin pumping devices, spin transfer torque, and tunneling. In this review, we describe the state of the art of the nascent field of magnetic two-dimensional materials focusing on synthesis, engineering, and theory aspects. Finally, we also discuss challenges and some of the many different promising directions for future work, highlighting unique applications that may extend even to other realms, including sensing and data storage.

2D materials↗

Epitaxial growth of europium monoxide on diamond

We report the epitaxial integration of phase-pure EuO on both single-crystal diamond and on epitaxial diamond films grown on silicon utilizing reactive molecular-beam epitaxy. The epitaxial orientation relationship is (001) EuO ‖ (001) diamond and [110] EuO ‖[100] diamond. The EuO layer is nominally unstrained and ferromagnetic with a transition temperature of 68 ± 2 K and a saturation magnetization of 5.5 ± 0.1 Bohr magnetons per europium ion on the single-crystal diamond, and a transition temperature of 67 ± 2 K and a saturation magnetization of 2.1 ± 0.1 Bohr magnetons per europium ion on the epitaxial diamond film.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Scale-Enhanced Magnetism in Exfoliated Atomically Thin Magnetite Sheets

The discovery of ferromagnetism in atomically thin layers at room temperature widens the prospects of 2D materials for device applications. Recently, two independent experiments demonstrated magnetic ordering in two dissimilar 2D systems, CrI 3 and Cr 2 Ge 2 Te 6 , at low temperatures and in VSe 2 at room temperature, but observation of intrinsic room-temperature magnetism in 2D materials is still a challenge. Here a transition at room temperature that increases the magnetization in magnetite while thinning down the bulk material to a few atom-thick sheets is reported. DC magnetization measurements prove ferrimagnetic ordering with increased magnetization and density functional theory calculations ascribe their origin to the low dimensionality of the magnetite layers. Additionally, surface energy calculations for different cleavage planes in passivated magnetite crystal agree with the experimental observations of obtaining 2D sheets from non-van der Waals crystals.

2D Magnetism↗

Tailoring Magnetic Skyrmions by Geometric Confinement of Magnetic Structures

Nanoscale magnetic skyrmions have interesting static and transport properties that make them candidates for future spintronic devices. Control and manipulation of the size and behavior of skyrmions is thus of crucial importance. Here, using a Ginzburg-Landau approach, we show theoretically that skyrmions and skyrmion lattices can be stabilized by a spatial modulation of the uniaxial magnetic anisotropy in a thin film of a centro-symmetric ferromagnet. Remarkably, the skyrmion size is determined by the ratio of the exchange length and the period of the spatial modulation of the anisotropy, at variance with conventional skyrmions stabilized by dipolar and Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interactions.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Ba 0.4 Rb 0.6 Mn 2 As 2 : A prototype half-metallic ferromagnet

Half-metallic ferromagnetism (FM) in single-crystal Ba 0.39(1) Rb 0.61(1) Mn 2 As 2 below its Curie temperature T C = 103(2) K is reported. The magnetization M versus applied magnetic field H isotherm data at 1.8 K show complete polarization of the itinerant doped-hole magnetic moments that are introduced by substituting Rb for Ba. Here, the material exhibits extremely soft FM, with unobservably small remanent magnetization and coercive field. Surprisingly, and contrary to typical itinerant FMs, the M(H) data follow the Arrott-plot paradigm that is based on a mean-field theory of local-moment FMs. The in-plane electrical resistivity data are fitted well by an activated-T 2 expression for T ≤ T C , whereas the data sharply deviate from this model for T > T C . Hence the activated-T 2 resistivity model is an excellent diagnostic for determining the onset of half-metallic FM in this compound, which in turn demonstrates the presence of a strong correlation between the electronic transport and magnetic properties of the material. Together with previous data on 40% hole-doped Ba 0.6 K 0.4 Mn 2 As 2 , these measurements establish 61%-doped Ba 0.39 Rb 0.61 Mn 2 As 2 as a prototype for a class of half-metallic ferromagnets in which all the itinerant carriers in the material are ferromagnetic.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Canted standing spin-wave modes of permalloy thin films observed by ferromagnetic resonance

Non-collinear spin structures in materials that combine perpendicular and in-plane magnetic anisotropies are of great technological interest for microwave and spin wave-assisted magnetization switching. [Co/Pt] multilayers are well-known perpendicular anisotropy materials that have the potential to pin the magnetization of a soft magnetic layer, such as permalloy (Py), that has in-plane anisotropy, thereby forming a magnetic exchange spring. Here we report on multilayered [Co/Pt]/Pt/Py films, where an additional ultrathin Pt spacer has been included to control the coupling between the sub-units with in-plane and perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. Vector network analyser (VNA)-ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) measurements were made to obtain a complete picture of the resonant conditions, while the dynamical response of the sub-units was probed by synchrotron-based element- and phase selective x-ray detected FMR (XFMR). For all samples, only slight pinning of the dynamic magnetization of the Py by the [Co/Pt] was noted, and the FMR results were dominated by the 50 nm thick Py layer. Out-of-plane VNA-FMR maps reveal the presence of additional modes, e.g. a perpendicular standing spin-wave (PSSW) state. However, as the magnetic field is reduced below the saturation field, the PSSW state morphs continuously through a series of canted standing spin-wave (CSSW) states into a horizontal standing spin-wave (HSSW) state. The PSSW, CSSW and HSSW states are well described using a multilayer model of the Py film. The observation of CSSW modes is of particular relevance to microwave assisted magnetic recording, where microwave excitation stimulates precession of a soft layer canted out of plane by a pulsed magnetic field.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Growth and characterization of Pt-protected Gd{sub 5}Si{sub 4} thin films

Successful growth and characterization of thin films of giant magnetocaloric Gd{sub 5}(Si{sub x}Ge{sub 1−x}){sub 4} were reported in the literature with limited success. The inherent difficulty in producing this complex material makes it difficult to characterize all the phases present in the thin films of this material. Therefore, thin film of binary compound of Gd{sub 5}Si{sub 4} was deposited by pulsed laser deposition. It was then covered with platinum on the top of the film to protect against any oxidation when the film was exposed to ambient conditions. The average film thickness was measured to be approximately 350 nm using a scanning electron microscopy, and the composition of the film was analyzed using energy dispersive spectroscopy. X-ray diffraction analysis indicates the presence of Gd{sub 5}Si{sub 4} orthorhombic structure along with Gd{sub 5}Si{sub 3} secondary phase. The transition temperature of the film was determined from magnetic moment vs. temperature measurement. The transition temperature was between 320 and 345 K which is close to the transition temperature of the bulk material. Magnetic moment vs. magnetic field measurement confirmed that the film was ferromagnetic below 342 K.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Electronic Structures of Several New Rare-Earth Half-Metallic Ferromagnets SmX (X = O, S, Se, and Te)

Several new rare-earth half-metallic ferromagnets with the NaCl structure, namely SmX (X = O, S, Se, and Te), are found based on the first-principle calculations (LSDA + U). These materials only have spin-up subbands at the Fermi level and their net crystal cell magnetic moments are all 6.00 µ{sub B} per unit cell, which shows that SmX are potential half-metallic ferromagnets. They have high Curie temperatures (above 1000 K) and stable half-metallicity. The magnetic moments, the electrical conductivity, and the half-metallicity of SmX mainly originate from the spin-polarization of Sm-4f orbitals, which are induced by the strong octahedral crystal field in the ligand complex ML{sub 6} consisting of the Sm ion and its six X ion ligands. Six 4f electrons occupy six 4f orbitals of the Sm ion in the high-spin sequence. The main reason is that the splitting energy is lower than the pairing energy of 4f electrons because the 4f orbitals are partly electrostaticly shielded by other electrons outside the 4f orbitals.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Magnetic, transport, and structural properties of SrRuO{sub 3} thin films

Thin films of the oxide ferromagnetic metal SrRuO{sub 3} (SRO) are studied, in view of their potential use within oxide-based spin electronic devices. Here, their epitaxial growth on Si-compatible SrTiO{sub 3} substrates is demonstrated by pulsed laser deposition. Detail on their initial, structural, magnetic, and magnetotransport characterisation is also provided. In particular, resistivity and Hall data are interpreted within a two/three carrier model, above T{sub C.} Below T{sub C}, some information about the anisotropy of the Fermi surface effective elipsoids (∼1:4) is recovered. The low-temperature saturation magnetisation approaches 1 μ{sub B}/Ru, with an uniaxial anisotropy of above 0.6 MJm{sup –3}. Despite its low T{sub C} = 160 K, and in view of its relatively low carrier mobility, it is reasoned that SRO could be utilized as the electrode layer in low-temperature all-oxide-MTJ (Magnetic Tunnel Junction) demonstrators and as a seed layer for other ferromagnetic oxides, at and above room temperature.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

On the nature of the Mn-related states in the band structure of (Ga,Mn)As alloys via probing the E{sub 1} and E{sub 1} + Δ{sub 1} optical transitions

The dilute (Ga,Mn)As became a model ferromagnetic semiconductor, however there is still a disagreement on the source of its magnetism. In this paper, we verify the ellipsometric results and compare them with more precise photoreflectance method, which gives an important insight into the interaction of the Mn-related states with the ones of GaAs valence band. No spectral shifts observed for the E{sub 1} and E{sub 1} + Δ{sub 1} interband transitions in highly doped and annealed (Ga,Mn)As epitaxial layers indicate that the coupling between a detached Mn impurity band and the valence band does not occur. Our findings are supported by the characterizations of the (Ga,Mn)As epitaxial layers with the high resolution transmission electron microscopy and magnetization measurements.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Revealing room temperature ferromagnetism in exfoliated Fe 5 GeTe 2 flakes with quantum magnetic imaging

Van der Waals (vdW) material Fe 5 GeTe 2 , with its long-range ferromagnetic ordering near room temperature, has significant potential to become an enabling platform for implementing novel spintronic and quantum devices. To pave the way for applications, it is crucial to determine the magnetic properties when the thickness of Fe 5 GeTe 2 reaches the few-layers regime. However, this is highly challenging due to the need for a characterization technique that is local, highly sensitive, artifact-free, and operational with minimal fabrication. Prior studies have indicated that Curie temperature T C can reach up to close to room temperature for exfoliated Fe 5 GeTe 2 flakes, as measured via electrical transport; there is a need to validate these results with a measurement that reveals magnetism more directly. Here, we investigate the magnetic properties of exfoliated thin flakes of vdW magnet Fe 5 GeTe 2 via quantum magnetic imaging technique based on nitrogen vacancy centers in diamond. Through imaging the stray fields, we confirm room-temperature magnetic order in Fe 5 GeTe 2 thin flakes with thickness down to 7 units cell. The stray field patterns and their response to magnetizing fields with different polarities is consistent with previously reported perpendicular easy-axis anisotropy. Furthermore, we perform imaging at different temperatures and determine the Curie temperature of the flakes at ≈300 K. These results provide the basis for realizing a room-temperature monolayer ferromagnet with Fe 5 GeTe 2 . This work also demonstrates that the imaging technique enables rapid screening of multiple flakes simultaneously as well as time-resolved imaging for monitoring time-dependent magnetic behaviors, thereby paving the way towards high throughput characterization of potential two-dimensional (2D) magnets near room temperature and providing critical insights into the evolution of domain behaviors in 2D magnets due to degradation.

2D magnet↗

Exchange bias magnetism in films of NiFe/(Ni,Fe)O nanocrystallite dispersions

Ni{sub 3}Fe/(Ni,Fe)O thin films having a nanocrystallite dispersion morphology were prepared by a reactive ion beam-assisted deposition technique. The crystallite sizes of these dispersion-based films were observed to decrease from 8.4 ± 0.3 nm to 3.4 ± 0.3 nm as the deposition flow-rate increased from 2.78% to 7.89% O{sub 2}/Ar. Thin film composition was determined using selective area electron diffraction images and Multislice simulations. Through a detailed analysis of high resolution transmission electron microscopy images, the nanocrystallites were determined to be Ni{sub 3}Fe (a ferromagnet), NiO, and FeO (both antiferromagnets). It was determined that the interfacial molar Ni{sub 3}Fe ratio in the nanocrystallite dispersions increased slightly at first, then decreased as the oxygen content was increased; at 7.89% O{sub 2}/Ar, the interfacial molar ratio was essentially zero (only NiO and FeO remained). For nanocrystallite dispersion films grown with O{sub 2}/Ar flow-rate greater than 7.89%, no interfacial (intermixed) Ni{sub 3}Fe phase was detected, which resulted in no measurable exchange bias. Comparing the exchange bias field between the nanocrystallite dispersion films at 5 K, we observed a decrease in the magnitude of the exchange bias field as the nanocrystallite size decreased. The exchange bias coupling for all samples measured set in at essentially the same temperature (i.e., the exchange bias blocking temperature). Since the ferromagnetic/anti-ferromagnetic (FM/AFM) contact area in the nanocrystallite dispersion films increased as the nanocrystallite size decreased, the increase in the magnitude of the exchange bias could be attributed to larger regions of defects (vacancies and bond distortions) which occupied a significant portion of the FM/AFM interfaces in the nanocrystallite dispersion films.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Structural, magnetic and electronic structure properties of Co doped ZnO nanoparticles

Highlights: • XRD and HR-TEM results show the single phase nature of Co doped ZnO nanoparticles. • XMCD and dc magnetization results indicate the RT-FM in Co doped ZnO nanoparticles. • Co L{sub 3,2} NEXAFS spectra infer that Co ions are in 2+ valence state. • O K edge NEXAFS spectra show that O vacancy increases with Co doping in ZnO. - Abstract: We reported structural, magnetic and electronic structure studies of Co doped ZnO nanoparticles. Doping of Co ions in ZnO host matrix has been studied and confirmed using various methods; such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), energy dispersed X-ray (EDX), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), near edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy, magnetic hysteresis loop measurements and X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD). From the XRD and HR-TEM results, it is observed that Co doped ZnO nanoparticles have single phase nature with wurtzite structure and exclude the possibility of secondary phase formation. FE-SEM and TEM micrographs show that pure and Co doped nanoparticles are nearly spherical in shape. O K edge NEXAFS spectra indicate that O vacancies increase with Co doping. The Co L{sub 3,2} edge NEXAFS spectra revealed that Co ions are in 2+ valence state. DC magnetization hysteresis loops and XMCD results clearly showed the intrinsic origin of temperature ferromagnetism in Co doped ZnO nanoparticles.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗

Emerged Metallicity in Molecular Ferromagnetic Wires

Supramolecular engineering bridges molecular assembly with macromolecular charge-transfer salts, promising the design to construct supramolecular architectures that integrate cooperative properties difficult or impossible to find in conventional lattices. Here, we report the crystal engineering design and kinetic growth of one-dimensional supramolecular wires composed of bis(ethylenedithio)tetrathiafulvalene (ET + ) cation and polymeric Cu[N(CN) 2 ] 2 – anion. A bulk ferromagnetic order is discovered for filling up the gap where strong ferromagnetism is missing in such ET molecule-based charge-transfer salts. Metallicity is induced by electric current from the semiconducting wire, which is attributed to strain effect by tuning its close molecular contact. This structural feature is evidenced through the combination of various mechanistic spectroscopic studies. Further, electric dipole is established from the close molecular contacts and is suggestive to stabilize ferromagnetic spin interaction through anions bridging spin sites. The breakthrough shown here provides a pathway to explore low-dimensional supramolecular materials exhibiting strong electron correlation, metallicity, and ferromagnetism.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗

Ab initio non-relativistic spin dynamics

Many magnetic materials do not conform to the (anti-)ferromagnetic paradigm where all electronic spins are aligned to a global magnetization axis. Unfortunately, most electronic structure methods cannot describe such materials with noncollinear electron spin on account of formally requiring spin alignment. To overcome this limitation, it is necessary to generalize electronic structure methods and allow each electron spin to rotate freely. Here, we report the development of an ab initio time-dependent non-relativistic two-component spinor (TDN2C), which is a generalization of the time-dependent Hartree-Fock equations. Propagating the TDN2C equations in the time domain allows for the first-principles description of spin dynamics. A numerical tool based on the Hirshfeld partitioning scheme is developed to analyze the time-dependent spin magnetization. In this work, we also introduce the coupling between electron spin and a homogenous magnetic field into the TDN2C framework to simulate the response of the electronic spin degrees of freedom to an external magnetic field. This is illustrated for several model systems, including the spin-frustrated Li{sub 3} molecule. Exact agreement is found between numerical and analytic results for Larmor precession of hydrogen and lithium atoms. The TDN2C method paves the way for the ab initio description of molecular spin transport and spintronics in the time domain.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗