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At least 91 records · Page 5

Magnetothermal properties of Ho 1-x Dy x Al 2 (x = 0, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.25 and 0.50) compounds

Magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of H o 1 - x D y x A l 2 compounds with x = 0 , 0.05 , 0.10 , 0.15 , 0.25 and 0.50 , modelled using a Hamiltonian that includes the exchange interactions between Ho-Dy, Ho-Ho and Dy-Dy ions in addition to the crystalline electric field and the Zeeman effects, have been compared with those determined experimentally. In order to reproduce experimentally observed global ferromagnetic ordering temperatures and spin reorientation transition temperatures as x Dy varies, the exchange interactions between Ho-Dy and Ho-Ho were set as free parameters and adjusted to match the experimental results. We demonstrate that heat capacity of polycrystalline materials in non-zero magnetic fields can be satisfactory reproduced by using the average of multiple magnetic field directions with respect to the crystallographic coordinate system, while reasonably good agreement between experimentally determined and theoretically predicted magnetocaloric effects can be achieved considering an average of only three field directions.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Magnetic transitions and magnetocaloric effect of Gd 4 Nd 1 Si 2 Ge 2

In this work, crystal structure and magnetic properties of the quaternary Gd 4 Nd 1 Si 2 Ge 2 compound were investigated using synchrotron X-ray diffraction and magnetic measurements. The compound crystallized into an orthorhombic structure in the temperature range 200-300 K. In zero field cooling, the compound undergoes a spin reorientation following a ferromagnetic-like transition at 276 K. The spin reorientation is hinted at by nonlinear changes of lattice parameters but is suppressed in a high magnetic field of 6 T. Magnetic measurements revealed a magnetocaloric effect with a high relative cooling power. It is suggested that Nd substitution for Gd enlarges magnetic anisotropy and induces a canted spin structure.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Magnetic field dependence of the martensitic transition and magnetocaloric effects in Ni 49 BiMn 35 In 15

The structural, magnetic, and magnetocaloric properties of the Bi-doped Heusler alloy Ni 49 BiMn 35 In 15 have been investigated using room temperature X-ray diffraction (XRD) and magnetization measurements in a temperature interval of 5-400 K. The alloy at room temperature was found to be in a mixture of a high temperature austenite phase (AP) and a low temperature martensite phase (MP). A drastic shift in the martensitic transition temperature at the rate of 16 K/T from 197 K to lower temperatures was observed. A kinetic arrest phenomenon of the AP was observed in the magnetization and electrical resistivity measurements during field-cooled (FC) measurements at 5T. A metamagnetic behavior characterized by a jump in magnetization in the isothermal M ( H ) curves near T M was observed. The maximum value of the magnetic entropy change and refrigerant capacity at Curie temperature were found to be 5.5 Jkg -1 K -1 and 312 Jkg -1 for μ o Δ H = 5T, respectively. A large magnetoresistance value of -56% was found near the martensitic transition.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

Dynamic re-equilibration controlled multi-step transformations in (Mn, Fe) 2 (P, Si) alloys

In (Mn, Fe) 2 (P, Si) alloys crystallographic first-order phase transformations enable strong coupling of magnetic and entropic properties, potentially leading to high-efficiency energy generation and refrigeration applications. Although hysteresis losses that limit these applications can be reduced through careful control of alloy composition, compositional tuning can also unfavorably influence transformation temperatures and magnetocaloric coupling strength. Hence, exploration of additional processing variables enabling independent control of transformation properties is crucial. In this work, we investigate the role of thermal history as an additional processing variable, exploiting thermally-activated mechanisms to control properties of non-diffusive transformations in (Mn, Fe) 2 (P, Si) alloys. In so doing, we report an unusual transformation-splitting phenomenon following annealing at intermediate times, where a single well-defined magneto-structural transformation evolves towards a multi-step transformation with individual steps occurring at multiple distinct temperatures. Here, on longer annealing at the same temperatures, single-step transformation behavior is recovered. Through additional magnetic and crystallographic characterization, we show that the thermal history-controlled multi-step behavior results from sluggish thermally-activated diffusion. The two-step transformation corresponds to non-equilibrium bimodal composition distributions in the transforming phase, and these develop through a dynamic re-equilibration process as the alloy passes relatively slowly between different thermal equilibria. Together, these results suggest that thermal history primarily controls the transformation properties of (Mn, Fe) 2 (P, Si) alloys indirectly through the composition of one or more transforming phases. Additional investigations are needed to develop thermal history processing for decoupling hysteresis control from other transformation properties.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

The influence of hydrostatic pressure and annealing conditions on the magnetostructural transitions in MnCoGe

In this work, the phase transitions of stoichiometric MnCoGe alloys were studied by systematically varying the annealing conditions and applying hydrostatic pressure. First-order martensitic structural transitions from the Ni2In-type hexagonal austenite phase to the TiNiSi-type orthorhombic martensite phase spanned a wide temperature window (>200 K) as a result of quenching the samples at temperatures ranging from the solid phase at 700 °C to the liquid phase at 1150 °C. Despite the large variation in their structural transition temperatures, the changes in cell parameters across the structural transitions and the Curie–Weiss temperatures of the martensite/austenite phase were relatively small. For the sample quenched from 800 °C, coupled magnetostructural transitions were observed, and the largest maximum magnetic entropy change was found to be -ΔS max = 33:6 J/kg K for a 7-T field change. The coupled magnetostructural transitions and the corresponding magnetic entropy enhancements were found to also be achievable by applying hydrostatic pressures. Meanwhile, as the quenching temperatures or hydrostatic pressures increased, the first-order martensitic structural transition shifted toward lower temperature until it was ultimately absent, in which case only the crystal structure and magnetic transition of the Ni 2 In-type hexagonal austenite phase were present.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

Field-tuned ferroquadrupolar quantum phase transition in the insulator TmVO 4

We report results of low-temperature heat-capacity, magnetocaloric-effect, and neutron-diffraction measurements of TmVO 4 , an insulator that undergoes a continuous ferroquadrupolar phase transition associated with local partially filled 4 f orbitals of the thulium (Tm 3 + ) ions. The ferroquadrupolar transition, a realization of Ising nematicity, can be tuned to a quantum critical point by using a magnetic field oriented along the c axis of the tetragonal crystal lattice, which acts as an effective transverse field for the Ising-nematic order. In small magnetic fields, the thermal phase transition can be well described by using a semiclassical mean-field treatment of the transverse-field Ising model. However, in higher magnetic fields, closer to the field-tuned quantum phase transition, subtle deviations from this semiclassical behavior are observed, which are consistent with expectations of quantum fluctuations. Although the phase transition is driven by the local 4 f degrees of freedom, the crystal lattice still plays a crucial role, both in terms of mediating the interactions between the local quadrupoles and in determining the critical scaling exponents, even though the phase transition itself can be described via mean field. In particular, bilinear coupling of the nematic order parameter to acoustic phonons changes the spatial and temporal fluctuations of the former in a fundamental way, resulting in different critical behavior of the nematic transverse-field Ising model, as compared to the usual case of the magnetic transverse-field Ising model. Our results establish TmVO 4 as a model material and electronic nematicity as a paradigmatic example for quantum criticality in insulators.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Tailoring Negative Thermal Expansion via Tunable Induced Strain in La–Fe–Si-Based Multifunctional Material

Zero thermal expansion (ZTE) composites are typically designed by combining positive (PTE) with negative thermal expansion (NTE) materials acting as compensators and have many diverse applications, including in high-precision instrumentation and biomedical devices. La(Fe 1-x ,Si x )13-based compounds display several remarkable properties, such as giant magnetocaloric effect and very large NTE at room-temperature. Both are linked via strong magnetovolume coupling, which leads to sharp magnetic and volume changes occurring simultaneously across first-order phase transitions; the abrupt nature of these changes makes them unsuitable as thermal expansion compensators. To make these materials more useful practically, the mechanisms controlling the temperature over which this transition occurs and the magnitude of contraction need to be controlled. In this work, ball-milling was used to decrease particles and crystallite sizes and increase the strain in LaFe 11.9 Mn 0.27 Si 1.29 H x alloys. Such size and strain tuning effectively broadened the temperature over which this transition occurs. The material’s NTE operational temperature window was expanded, and its peak was suppressed by up to 85%. This work demonstrates that induced strain is the key mechanism controlling these materials’ phase transitions. This allows the optimization of their thermal expansion towards room-temperature ZTE-applications.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Fathoming the anisotropic magnetoelasticity and magnetocaloric effect in GdNi

Intermetallic GdNi adopts a CrB type of crystal structure (space group Cmcm), and it orders ferromagnetically via a second-order phase transition at 70 K, exhibiting unusually strong spontaneous striction along the three independent crystallographic axes in the ferromagnetically ordered state. Here we introduce a microscopic model to describe anisotropic changes of lattice parameters and elastic contribution to magnetocaloric effect of GdNi. In the model, results of density functional theory (DFT) calculations are used as inputs into a Hamiltonian that includes elastic energy of an anisotropic crystal lattice, exchange interactions, and Zeeman effect. The magnetic and elastic Hamiltonians are coupled through an anisotropic Bean-Rodbell model of magnetoelastic interactions. This coupling gives rise to anisotropic changes in the lattice parameters observed experimentally, and the model reveals good to reasonable agreements between the current theoretical results and earlier experimental data, thus validating the model within the limits of assumptions made. We also show that DFT calculations with 4f electrons of Gd treated as core electrons lead to a more adequate estimate of elastic constants of GdNi in comparison with the LDA + U method where 4f electrons are treated as valence electrons.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

First-order magnetic phase transition in P r 2 In with negligible thermomagnetic hysteresis

Magnetic first-order phase transitions are key for the emergence of functionalities of fundamental and applied significance, including magnetic shape memory as well as magnetostrictive and magnetocaloric effects. Such transitions are usually associated with thermomagnetic hysteresis. In this paper we report the observation of a firstorder transition in Pr 2 In from a paramagnetic to a ferromagnetic state at $T_C$ = 57K without a detectable thermomagnetic hysteresis, which is also accompanied by a large magnetocaloric effect. The peculiar electronic structure of Pr2In exhibiting a large density of states near the Fermi energy explains the highly responsive magnetic behavior of the material. The magnetic properties of Pr 2 In are reported, including observation of another (second-order) magnetic transition at 35 K.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Enhanced magnetocaloric effects in metastable phases of Mn 1- x Co x NiGe generated through thermal quenching and high-pressure annealing

Metastable phases were formed in Mn 1-x Co x NiGe (x = 0.05 and 0.08) by annealing at 800 °C followed by rapid cooling, i.e., quenching, at ambient pressure (P = 0) and under a pressure of P = 3.5 GPa, and their phase transitions and associated magnetocaloric properties were investigated. The crystal cell volumes of the metastable phases decreased, and their structural transitions significantly shifted to lower temperatures relative to those of the slow-cooled compounds, with a greater reduction observed in the samples where the rapid cooling occurred under high pressures. The magnetic and structural transitions coupled to form a magnetostructural transition in the metastable phases, resulting in large magnetic entropy changes up to -79.6 J kg -1 K -1 (x = 0.08 ) for a 7-T field change. As a result, the experimental results demonstrate thermal quenching and high-pressure annealing as alternative methods to create magnetostructural transitions, without modifying the compositions of the materials.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

Field-tunable BKT and quantum phase transitions in spin-$\frac{1}{2}$ triangular lattice antiferromagnet

Quantum magnetism is one of the most active fields for exploring exotic phases and phase transitions. The recently synthesized Na 2 BaCo(PO 4 ) 2 (NBCP) is an ideal material incarnation of the spin-$\frac{1}{2}$ easy-axis triangular lattice antiferromagnet (TLAF). Experimental evidence shows that NBCP hosts the spin supersolid state with a giant magnetocaloric effect. Theory further predicts that magnetic fields can drive NBCP through Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless (BKT) and other richer quantum phase transitions. However, detecting these transitions is challenging, as they onset at ultralow temperatures near 60 mK and require high magnetization sensitivity. Using a newly developed gradient force magnetometer in a dilution refrigerator, we mapped the magnetic susceptibility phase diagram down to 30 mK. Our results provide a more comprehensive and accurate understanding of BKT melting of spin supersolidity and several field-tunable quantum phase transitions, which establish NBCP as a model platform for frustrated magnetism and highlight potential applications of its giant magnetocaloric effects.

BKT transition↗

Comparison of the dielectric and magnetocaloric properties of bulk and film of GdFe 0.5 Cr 0.5 O 3

Here, we report a comparison of the magnetic, magnetocaloric, and dielectric properties of 50% iron substituted GdCrO 3 (GdFe 0.5 Cr 0.5 O 3 ) bulk pellet and 960 nm thick film of GdFe 0.5 Cr 0.5 O 3 (GFCO). The 960 nm film was synthesized on a platinized-silicon substrate by chem. soln. deposition and spin-coating methods. The X-ray diffraction scans of the bulk sample and the film as well as the morphology of the film as examined by the field-emission scanning electron microscope indicate phase-pure and polycrystalline nature of these samples. XPS was used to deermine the valence states of Gd, Fe, and Cr. The temp. dependence of the dielectric const. from 225 to 700 K shows peaks at T C = 525 K for the bulk and ≈450 K for the film due to ferroelectric to paraelectric transitions, since elec. polarization vs elec. field hysteresis loops are observed. at room temp. The dielectric studies in the bulk GFCO for T > T C indicate a relaxor-like behavior. The measurements of the magnetization (M) of the samples as a function of temp. (5-350 K) and magnetic field (H) up to 7 T (=70 kOe) depict hysteresis behavior at low temps. due to the canted antiferromagnetic order of Fe 3+ /Cr 3+ below the Néel temp. of ≈275 K. The M vs H isotherms at various temps. are used to det. and compare the magnetic entropy change (-ΔS) and relative cooling power (RCP) of the two samples, yielding (-ΔS) = 30.7 J/kg K (18.8 J/kg K) and RCP = 566.5 J/kg (375 J/kg) for the bulk (960 nm film) samples of GFCO at 7 K and 7 T, resp. The plot of RCP vs T shows that magnetic cooling for this system is most effective for T < 30 K. Comparatively smaller magnitudes of (-ΔS) and RCP for the film vis-a-vis the bulk sample of GFCO scale with its reduced magnetization. This suggests that further improvements in the quality of the films are needed to improve their magnetization and hence their magnetocaloric properties, possibly making them useful for on-chip cooling in miniaturized devices.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

NMR studies of the ground states of Ni 50-x Co x Mn 35 In 15 (x=1, 2.5) and Ni 45 Co 5 Mn 37 In 13 Heusler alloys

Three temperature-induced phase transitions at T=T 1 , T M /T A , and T C , related to the ferromagnetic order of the martensitic phase (FMMP), martensitic (structural) transitions (MT), and the ferromagnetic order of the austenitic phase (FMAP), respectively, have been observed in the off-stoichiometric Heusler alloys, Ni 50-x Co x Mn 35 In 15 (x=1, 2.5) and Ni 45 Co 5 Mn 37 In 13 . In this work, the phase transitions temperatures are found to be depended on alloy composition. A kinetic arrest of the AP was observed for Ni 47.5 Co 2.5 Mn 35 In 15 in the magnetization measurements during field-cooling cycle (FCC) at 50 kOe. Depending upon the cooling protocols, ZFC and FCC (at H = 50 kOe), two different ground states of the alloys can be found in Ni 47.5 Co 2.5 Mn 35 In 15 and Ni 45 Co 5 Mn 37 In 13 alloys. The ground states (T=4.2 K and external field H=0) of the alloys was found to be characterized by three main line: two, partially overlapping, at higher frequencies (300-450 MHz), most likely corresponding of manganese resonance lines and one at lower frequency at about 200 MHz. A significant shift in the spectrum of Ni 45 Co 5 Mn 37 In 13 by about 100 MHz to higher frequencies was observed. The correlation of magnetizations obtained from magnetic moment and NMR studies is discussed.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Magnetic field-temperature phase diagram of the spin-$\frac{1}{2}$ triangular lattice antiferromagnet KYbSe 2

A quantum spin liquid (QSL) is a state of matter characterized by fractionalized quasiparticle excitations, quantum entanglement, and a lack of long-range magnetic order. However, QSLs have evaded definitive experimental observation. Several Yb 3+ -based triangular lattice antiferromagnets with effective 𝑆 = $\frac{1}{2}$ have been suggested to stabilize the QSL state as the ground state. Here, in this work, we build a comprehensive magnetic temperature phase diagram of a high-quality single crystalline KYbSe 2 via heat capacity and magnetocaloric effect down to 30 mK with magnetic field applied along the 𝑎 axis. At zero magnetic field, we observe the magnetic long-range order at 𝑇 N =0.29 K entering 120 degrees ordered state in heat capacity, consistent with neutron scattering studies. Analysis of the low-temperature (𝑇) specific heat (𝐶) at zero magnetic field indicates linear 𝑇 dependence of 𝐶/𝑇 and a broad hump of 𝐶/𝑇 in the proximate QSL region above 𝑇 N . By applying magnetic field, we observe the up-up-down phase with 1/3 magnetization plateau and oblique phases, in addition to two new phases. These observations strongly indicate that while KYbSe 2 closely exhibits characteristics resembling an ideal triangular lattice, deviations may exist, such as the effect of the next-nearest-neighbor exchange interaction, calling for careful consideration for spin Hamiltonian modeling. Further investigations into tuning parameters, such as chemical pressure, could potentially induce an intriguing QSL phase in the material.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Synthesis, structural, and magnetic properties of Heusler-type Mn 2-x Fe 1+x Ge (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 1.0) alloys

Bulk Mn 2-x Fe 1+x Ge (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 1.0) alloys have been synthesized by arc-melting followed by a low temperature homogenization thermal annealing, whereas for comparison purposes the Mn 2 FeGe alloy was also produced in ribbon form by rapid solidification. Here, a study of the structural and magnetic properties is presented. Contrary to theoretical predictions, Mn 2 FeGe crystallizes in a hexagonal DO 19 crystal structure (space group P63/mmc) and orders ferromagnetically with a saturation magnetization (M S ) value of ~1.7 µB/f.u. in the ground state. With the substitution of Fe for Mn in bulk Mn 2-x Fe 1+x Ge, we observed an increase in the FM interactions with a maximum MS value of 5.1 µ B /f.u. for x = 1.0, and a significant progressive increase in the Curie temperature (T C ) in a wide range spanning ~200 K to over 400 K.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

Anisotropy, frustration, and saddle point in the twisted kagome compound ErPdPb

The kagome lattice, with its inherent geometric frustration, provides a rich platform for exploring intriguing magnetic phenomena and topological electronic structures. In reduced-symmetry structures, such as twisted kagome systems involving rare earth elements, additional anisotropy can arise, enabling intriguing properties including spin-ice states, magnetocaloric effects, noncollinear magnetic ordering, and the anomalous Hall effect. Here, we report the synthesis of single crystals of ErPdPb, which features a twisted kagome lattice net of Er atoms within the hexagonal ZrNiAl-type structure, and we investigate its magnetic, electronic, and thermal properties. The material exhibits a highly anisotropic, correlated magnetic state below 2.7 K, as evidenced by magnetic, transport, and heat capacity measurements. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations indicate strong easy-axis anisotropy, consistent with experiment and crystal-field expectations, as well as quasi-one-dimensional bands and a spin-split saddle point at the zone center. Here, the coexistence of competing magnetic interactions along different crystallographic directions suggests an inherent degree of frustration. ErPdPb thus provides a promising platform for exploring the interplay of frustration, anisotropy, and electronic structure in a twisted kagome lattice.

Antiferromagnets↗

Hybrid magnon-phonon localization enhances function near ferroic glassy states

Ferroic materials on the verge of forming ferroic glasses exhibit heightened functionality that is often attributed to competing long- and short-range correlations. However, the physics underlying these enhancements is not well understood. The Ni 45 Co 5 Mn 36.6 In 13.4 Heusler alloy is on the edge of forming both spin and strain glasses and exhibits magnetic field–induced shape memory and large magnetocaloric effects, making it a candidate for multicaloric cooling applications. We show using neutron scattering that localized magnon-phonon hybrid modes, which are inherently spread across reciprocal space, act as a bridge between phonons and magnons and result in substantial magnetic field–induced shifts in the phonons, triple the caloric response, and alter phase stability. We attribute these modes to the localization of phonons and magnons by antiphase boundaries coupled to magnetic domains. Because the interplay between short- and long-range correlations is common near ferroic glassy states, our work provides general insights on how glassiness enhances function.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗