Room-temperature magnetoresistance in an oxide material with an ordered double-perovskite structure

Valence bond glass on an fcc lattice in the double Perovskite Ba2YMoO6

We report on the unconventional magnetism in the cubic B-site ordered double perovskite Ba2YMoO6, using ac and dc magnetic susceptibility, heat capacity and muon spin rotation. No magnetic order is observed down to 2 K while the Weiss temperature is approximately -160 K. This is ascribed to the geometric frustration in the lattice of edge-sharing tetrahedra with orbitally degenerate Mo5+ s=1/2 spins. Our experimental results point to a gradual freezing of the spins into a disordered pattern of spin singlets, quenching the orbital degeneracy while leaving the global cubic symmetry unaffected, and providing a rare example of a valence bond glass.

Epitaxial Structure of (001)- and (111)-Oriented Perovskite Ferrate Films Grown by Pulsed-Laser Deposition

The epitaxial structures of SrFeO(2.5) films grown on SrTiO(3) (001) and (111) substrates by PLD are reported. A layer-by-layer growth mode was achieved in the initial stage on both substrates. The films were stabilized with a monoclinic structure, where we identified the in-plane domain structures and orientation relationship. Our study presents a guide to control the heteroepitaxy of (111)-oriented noncubic perovskites.

Crystal growth and twinned crystal structure of Sr2CaWO6

Single crystals of Sr2CaWO6have been prepared by sintering at high temperature. Powder samples were compressed into rods and heated up to 1953 K. This seems a promising new route for further studies of the structure and physical properties of double perovskites. The structural model of Sr2CaWO6includes a quantitative description of the twinning shown by the diffraction pattern that should be present in almost any single-crystal specimen for this type of compound.

High-pressure behavior of perovskite: FeTiO_{3} dissociation into (Fe_{1-delta},Ti_{delta})O and Fe_{1+delta}Ti_{2-delta}O_{5}

The stability of perovskite-structured materials at high pressure and temperature is of fundamental interest in solid-state physics, chemistry, and the geosciences. As an alternative to decomposition into oxides or transformation of the CaIrO_{3} postperovskite structure, we observe in situ the breakdown of FeTiO_{3} perovskite into a (Fe_{1-delta},Ti_{delta})O + Fe_{1+delta}Ti_{2-delta}O_{5} assemblage beyond 53 GPa and 2000 K. The high-pressure high-temperature phase of Fe_{1+delta}Ti_{2-delta}O_{5} with a new structure (space group C2/c) could be preserved on decompression to 9 GPa, and amorphizes under further pressure release. Our study demonstrates that perovskite-structured materials can undergo chemical changes and form complex oxides with new structures, rather than only transform to denser polymorphs or decompose to simple oxides.

Nature of "disorder" in the ordered double perovskite Sr2FeMoO6

The degree of B/B;{'} alternate cation order is known to heavily influence the magnetic properties of A_{2}BB;{'}O_{6} double perovskites although the nature of such disorder has never been critically studied. Our detailed x-ray absorption fine structure studies in conjunction with synchrotron radiation x-ray diffraction experiments on polycrystalline Sr_{2}FeMoO_{6} samples with various degrees of disorder reveal that a very high degree of short range order is preserved even in samples with highly reduced long range chemical order. Based on these experimental results and with the help of detailed structural simulations, we are able to model the nature of the disorder in this important class of materials and discuss the consequent implications on its physical properties.

Local structure of Sr(2)FeMo(x)W(1-x)O(6) double perovskites across the composition-driven metal to insulator transition

Sr(2)FeMoO(6) oxides exhibit a half-metallic ferromagnetic (HM-FM) ground state and peculiar magnetic and magnetotransport properties, which are interesting for applications in the emerging field of spintronics and attractive for fundamental research in the field of heavily correlated electron systems. Sr(2)FeWO(6) is an insulator with an antiferromagnetic (I-AFM) ground state. The solid solutions Sr(2)FeMo(x)W(1-x)O(6) also have peculiar properties-W doping enhances chemical order which allows stabilization of the HM-FM state; as the W content exceeds a certain value a metal to insulator transition (MIT) occurs. The role of W in determining the physical properties of Sr(2)FeMo(x)W(1-x)O(6) systems has been a matter of intense investigation. This work deals with the problem of the structural and electronic changes related to the MIT from a local perspective by means of x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). This technique allows one to probe in detail the local structure and electronic modifications around selected absorber ions (W, Mo, Fe and Sr in our case). The results of XAS analysis in the whole composition range (0≤x≤1), in the near edge (XANES) and extended (EXAFS) regions, demonstrate an abrupt change of the local structure around the Fe and Mo sites at the critical composition, x(c). This change represents the microstructural counterpart associated with the MIT. Conversely, the local structure and electronic configuration of W ions remain unaltered in the whole composition range, suggesting indirect participation of W in the MIT.

The crucial role of mixed valence in the magnetoresistance properties of manganites and cobaltites

The mixed valence Mn3+/Mn4+ and Co3+/Co4+ in manganites and cobaltites with the perovskite structure is absolutely necessary for the appearance of magnetotransport properties. It is shown that in these systems the Jahn Teller effect of the transition element, the charge and orbital ordering and the oxygen stoichiometry play a key role in the appearance of large and even colossal magnetoresistance. It has been discovered that these oxides exhibit a new phenomenon, the crystallographic and electronic phase separation. It is this phenomenon that is at the origin of the competition between ferromagnetism and antiferromagnetism or spin glass behaviour and which leads to the negative magnetoresistance (MR). The doping of these materials at different sites appears then to be a means of inducing large MR effects.

Critical test for Altshuler-Aronov theory: evolution of the density of states singularity in double perovskite Sr2FeMoO6 with controlled disorder

With high-resolution photoemission spectroscopy measurements, the density of states (DOS) near the Fermi level (E(F)) of double perovskite Sr(2)FeMoO(6) having different degrees of Fe/Mo antisite disorder has been investigated with varying temperature. The DOS near E(F) showed a systematic depletion with increasing degree of disorder, and recovered with increasing temperature. Altshuler-Aronov (AA) theory of disordered metals well explains the dependences of the experimental results. Scaling analysis of the spectra provides experimental indication for the functional form of the AA DOS singularity.

Spintronics: A Challenge for Materials Science and Solid-State Chemistry

Spintronics is a multidisciplinary field involving physics, chemistry, and engineering, and is a new research area for solid-state scientists. A variety of new materials must be found to satisfy different demands. The search for ferromagnetic semiconductors and stable half-metallic ferromagnets with Curie temperatures higher than room temperature remains a priority for solid-state chemistry. A general understanding of structure-property relationships is a necessary prerequisite for the design of new materials. In this Review, the most important developments in the field of spintronics are described from the point of view of materials science.

Origin of ferromagnetism and its pressure and doping dependence in Tl2Mn2O7

Using the Nth order muffin-tin obital downfolding technique, we investigate the origin of ferromagnetism in pyrochlore Tl2Mn2O7. It is found to be driven by a hybridization induced spin polarization of delocalized charge carriers derived from Tl-s and O-p states. The mean-field estimate of the ferromagnetic transition temperature Tc estimated using computed exchange integrals are found to be in good agreement with measurements. We find an enhancement of Tc for moderate doping with nonmagnetic Sb and a suppression of Tc upon application of pressure, both in agreement with experimental findings.

Raman Scattering Studies of the Ba2MnWO6 and Sr2MnWO6 Double Perovskites

Polycrystalline Ba2MnWO6 (BMW) and Sr2MnWO6 (SMW) samples were studied between 80 and 1200 K by Raman scattering spectroscopy. In the case of BMW (space group Fmm), four Raman active vibrational modes, predicted by factor group analysis, were identified. Raman scattering studies with different wavelengths revealed a resonant bands between 300 and 800 cm-1. The origin of these bands was related to the Franck-Condon process. Line broadening versus temperature and phonon frequency were studied, and a qualitative explanation was proposed. SMW samples had considerably more complex Raman spectra. It was found that SMW transformed from tetragonal (room-temperature space group P42/n) to the cubic phase between 670 and 690 K; the phase transition temperature was dependent on sample preparation conditions, and it was considerably lower than in the case of large grain size powders. The role of grain size in phase transition is discussed. Mn ions were found to have a crucial role in the lattice dynamics of both materials.

Negative lattice expansion from the superconductivity–antiferromagnetism crossover in ruthenium copper oxides

The mechanism of high-transition-temperature (high-T(c)) superconductivity in doped copper oxides is an enduring problem. Antiferromagnetism is established as the competing order, but the relationship between the two states in the intervening 'pseudogap' regime has become a central puzzle. The role of the crystal lattice, which is important in conventional superconductors, also remains unclear. Here we report an anomalous increase of the distance between copper oxide planes on cooling, which results in negative thermal volume expansion, for layered ruthenium copper oxides that have been doped to the boundary of antiferromagnetism and superconductivity. We propose that a crossover between these states is driven by spin ordering in the ruthenium oxide layers, revealing a novel mechanism for negative lattice expansion in solids. The differences in volume and lattice strain between the distinct superconducting and antiferromagnetic states can account for the phase segregation phenomena found extensively in low-doped copper oxides, and show that Cooper pair formation is coupled to the lattice. Unusually large variations of resistivity with magnetic field are found in these ruthenium copper oxides at low temperatures through coupling between the ordered Ru and Cu spins.

Metallic ferromagnet with square-lattice CoO2 sheets

A single-crystalline film of Sr2CoO4 with square-lattice CoO2 sheets (K2NiF4-type structure) was synthesized, and its electronic properties were characterized. The compound exhibited both ferromagnetic and metallic behaviors, with a fairly high Curie temperature T(C) of approximately 250 K, in contrast to the superconductivity recently found in a triangular-lattice CoO2-sheet compound. The film's large magnetoresistance with current perpendicular to the CoO2 plane showed field-hysteretic behavior analogous to tunneling magnetoresistance. The electronic structure of Sr2CoO4 was also investigated to characterize the quasi-two-dimensional ferromagnetic metal state in terms of optical spectroscopy and first-principles calculation.