Theoretical studies of the temperature dependence of zero-field splitting of Cr3+ centers in ruby

Midgap radiative centers in carbon-enriched hexagonal boron nitride

When serving as a protection tissue and/or inducing a periodic lateral modulation for/in atomically thin crystals, hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) has revolutionized the research on van der Waals heterostructures. By itself, hBN appears as an emergent wide-bandgap material, which, importantly, can be optically bright in the far-ultraviolet range and which frequently displays midgap defect-related centers of yet-unclear origin, but, interestingly, acting as single-photon emitters. Controlling the hBN doping is of particular interest in view of the possible practical use of this material. Here, we demonstrate that enriching hBN with carbon (C) activates an optical response of this material in the form of a series of well-defined resonances in visible and near-infrared regions, which appear in the luminescence spectra measured under below-bandgap excitation. Two, qualitatively different, C-related radiative centers are identified: One follows the Franck-Condon principle that describes transitions between two defect states with emission/annihilation of optical phonons, and the other shows atomic-like resonances characteristic of intradefect transitions. With a detailed characterization of the energy structure and emission dynamics of these radiative centers, we contribute to the development of controlled doping of hBN with midgap centers.

Optical and magnetic properties of the ground state of Cr3+ doping ions in REM3(BO3)4 single crystals

New data about the state of Cr³⁺ doping ions in a single crystal of YGa₃(BO₃)₄ have been obtained by studying different methods. Using electron paramagnetic resonance, it was found that the Cr³⁺ ions substitute the trivalent gallium ions. The obtained spin Hamiltonian parameters of the Cr³⁺ ions in the YGa₃(BO₃)₄ single crystal (g = 1.9743 ± 0.0004; D = −0.465 ± 0.001 cm⁻¹; E = −0.013 ± 0.001 cm⁻¹) were analyzed and compared with those in TmAl₃(BO₃)₄, EuAl₃(BO₃)₄, and YAl₃(BO₃)₄. The deviation of the Z-axis in the spectrum from the crystallographic axis С₃ is 1,7 degrees in YGa₃(BO₃)₄. In situ X-ray diffraction was used to study the structural and elastic properties of huntite-type borates in the temperature range of RT-1073 K. In the radioluminescence (RL) spectra, the Cr³⁺-related emission bands were observed in the red wavelength range, and the presence of other defect-related bands was also registered in some cases. Thermally stimulated luminescence (TSL) glow curves were acquired over a wide temperature range, and the trap depths of the most prominent bands were calculated. The ¹¹B NMR spectra show that two nonequivalent spectral components exist for BO₃ structural elements.

Spin states, vibrations and spin relaxation in molecular nanomagnets and spin qubits: a critical perspective

Very recently the closely related fields of molecular spin qubits, single ion magnets and single atom magnets have been shaken by unexpected results. We have witnessed a jump in the phase memory times of spin qubits from a few microseconds to almost a millisecond in a vanadium complex, magnetic hysteresis up to 60 K in a dysprosium-based magnetic molecule and magnetic memory up to 30 K in a holmium atom deposited on a surface. With single-molecule magnets being more than two decades old, this rapid improvement in the physical properties is surprising and its explanation deserves urgent attention. The general assumption of focusing uniquely on the energy barrier is clearly insufficient to model magnetic relaxation. Other factors, such as vibrations that couple to spin states, need to be taken into account. In fact, this coupling is currently recognised to be the key factor that accounts for the slow relaxation of magnetisation at higher temperatures. Herein we will present a critical perspective of the recent advances in molecular nanomagnetism towards the goal of integrating spin-phonon interactions into the current computational methodologies of spin relaxation. This presentation will be placed in the context of the well-known models developed in solid state physics, which, as we will explain, are severely limited for molecular systems.

Dynamic nuclear polarization of (1)H, (13)C, and (59)Co in a tris(ethylenediamine)cobalt(III) crystalline lattice doped with Cr(III)

The study of inorganic crystalline materials by solid-state NMR spectroscopy is often complicated by the low sensitivity of heavy nuclei. However, these materials often contain or can be prepared with paramagnetic dopants without significantly affecting the structure of the crystalline host. Dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) is generally capable of enhancing NMR signals by transferring the magnetization of unpaired electrons to the nuclei. Therefore, the NMR sensitivity in these paramagnetically doped crystals might be increased by DNP. In this paper we demonstrate the possibility of efficient DNP transfer in polycrystalline samples of [Co(en)3Cl3]2·NaCl·6H2O (en = ethylenediamine, C2H8N2) doped with Cr(III) in varying concentrations between 0.1 and 3 mol %. We demonstrate that (1)H, (13)C, and (59)Co can be polarized by irradiation of Cr(III) with 140 GHz microwaves at a magnetic field of 5 T. We further explain our findings on the basis of electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy of the Cr(III) site and analysis of its temperature-dependent zero-field splitting, as well as the dependence of the DNP enhancement factor on the external magnetic field and microwave power. This first demonstration of DNP transfer from one paramagnetic metal ion to its diamagnetic host metal ion will pave the way for future applications of DNP in paramagnetically doped materials or metalloproteins.

Fluorescence spectra and crystal field analysis of BaMoO(4): Eu(3+) phosphors for white light-emitting diodes

The red phosphors play a vital role in controlling luminous efficiency, color rendering index and adjustability in color temperature of white light emitting diodes (w-LEDs). Here, we demonstrate a type of red-emitting phosphors Eu(3+)-doped barium molybdate phosphors effectively excited by the blue light (464nm). These phosphors present the strong emission spectra around 613nm and their color coordinate values are close to the NTSC standard values. More importantly, by constructing a complete 3003×3003 energy matrix by an effective operator Hamiltonian including the free ion and crystal field interactions, for the first time, the fluorescent mechanism for Eu(3+) ions at the tetragonal (S4) Ba(2+) site of BaMoO(4) crystal were investigated by a complete diagonalization (of energy matrix) method (CMD). The fitting values are close to the experimental results, demonstrating the feasibility of using the complete diagonalization method to study the phosphors for w-LEDs.

Studies of the spin-Hamiltonian parameters and defect structures for the tetragonal and cubic Yb3+ centers in AgCl crystal

The spin-Hamiltonian parameters, g factors and hyperfine structure constants, for the tetragonal and cubic Yb(3+) centers in AgCl crystal are calculated from the complete diagonalization (of energy matrix) method. The calculations are based on the defect models that the tetragonal Yb(3+) center is formed by the substitutional Yb(3+) associated with two nearest Ag(+) vacancy (V(Ag)) along <001> and <001¯> axes (i.e., C(4) axis) owing to charge compensation and in cubic Yb(3+) center the two compensators V(Ag) are remote. From the calculations, the spin-Hamiltonian parameters of both Yb(3+) centers in AgCl are explained reasonably, the signs of hyperfine structure constants A(i)((171)Yb(3+)) and A(i)((173)Yb(3+)) are suggested, the above defect models of both Yb(3+) centers are confirmed and their defect structures are determined.

A variable temperature solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance, electron paramagnetic resonance and Raman scattering study of molecular dynamics in ferroelectric fluorides

The local nuclear and electronic structures and molecular dynamics of the ferroelectric lattice in selected geometric fluorides (BaMgF(4), BaZnF(4), BaMg(1 - x)Mn(x)F(4) and BaMg(1 - x)Ni(x)F(4); x = 0.001 and 0.005) have been investigated. The (19)F and (25)Mg isotropic chemical shift δ(iso), (25)Mg quadrupolar coupling constants (C(q)) and asymmetry parameters (η) reflect the geometry of the coordination spheres. The zero-field splitting parameters |D| and |E| are consistent with distorted axial symmetry (low temperatures) and nearly rhombic symmetry (high temperatures) of octahedral Mn(2+) coordination. The high resolution of the nuclear magnetic resonance, electron paramagnetic resonance and phonon spectra are consistent with the highly ordered crystallographic structure. Combined multi-technique data evidence the subtle discontinuous changes in the temperature dependences of |D| and |E|, isotropic chemical shifts δ(iso) and signature parameters of Raman bands and suggest a discontinuous structural distortion of the fluoride octahedra. The temperature at which this change occurs depends on the ionic radius of the central ion of the octahedral site and is estimated to be ∼ 300 K for Zn(2+) fluorides and ∼ 240 K for Mg(2+) fluorides. This geometrical distortion modifies the lattice dynamics and originates from the rotation of the fluoride octahedra around a new direction approximately perpendicular to that related to the paraelectric-ferroelectric phase transition.

A theoretical study on the temperature dependence of zero-field splitting for the tetragonal Cr3+ center in MgO crystal

This paper reports a detailed theoretical calculation of the temperature dependence of zero-field splitting D (characterized by ΔD(T)=D(T)-D(0)) for the tetragonal Cr3+ center in MgO crystal by considering both the static contribution due to the thermal expansion of Cr3+ center and the vibrational contribution caused by electron-phonon (including the acoustic and optical phonons) interaction. The vibrational contribution due to the acoustic phonon is calculated using the long-wave approximation similar to the study on the specific heat of crystals and that due to optical phonon is estimated using the single-phonon model. The calculated results are in reasonable agreement with the experimental values. From the calculation, it is found that the static contribution ΔDstat(T) (which is often regarded as very small and is neglected in the previous papers) is larger than the vibrational contribution ΔDvib(T) and so the reasonable studies of temperature dependence of zero-field splitting should take both the static and the vibrational contributions into account.

Theoretical investigations of the EPR parameters for Cr3+ and Mn4+ ions in PbTiO3 crystals

The complete high-order perturbation formulas of EPR parameters (g factors g( parallel), g( perpendicular) and zero-field splitting D), containing the crystal-field (CF) mechanism and charge-transfer (CT) mechanism (the latter is omitted in crystal-field theory which is often used to study the EPR parameters), are established from a cluster approach for 3d3 ions in tetragonal octahedral sites. According to the calculations based on these formulas, the EPR parameters g( parallel), g( perpendicular) and zero-field splitting D for Cr3+ and Mn4+ ions in PbTiO3 crystals are explained reasonably. The calculations show that (i) the sign of g-shift Deltag(i)(CT) (=g(i)-g(s), where g(s)=2.0023 is free-electron value and i= parallel and perpendicular) in CT mechanism is opposite to, but that of D(CT) is the same as, the corresponding signs in the CF mechanism and (ii) the relative importance of CT mechanism for the high valence state 3d3 ion (e.g., Mn4+) is large and so the contributions to EPR parameters from CT mechanism should be taken into account. The different sign of splitting D and the different defect structure for Cr3+ and Mn4+ impurity centers in PbTiO3 crystals are also suggested from the calculations. The results are discussed.

Investigations of the EPR zero-field splitting and the defect structure for Mn(2+) and Fe(3+) ions in anatase crystals

The EPR zero-field splittings D of Mn(2+) and Fe(3+) ions in anatase crystals at room and low temperatures are calculated from the high-order perturbation formula of zero-field splitting D for 3d(5) ions in tetragonal symmetry based on the dominant spin-orbit coupling mechanism. The calculated results are consistent with the observed values. From the calculations, Mn(2+) and Fe(3+) ions are suggested to substitute for Ti(4+) ions in anatase (in the previous paper, Mn(2+) ion was suggested at an interstitial site rather than substitutional site) and the defect structures (characterized mainly by the local oxygen parameter u) for both tetragonal Mn(2+) and Fe(3+) impurity centers are estimated. The different zero-field splitting at room and low temperatures are due mainly to the change of local oxygen parameter u with the temperature. These results are discussed.

Electron paramagnetic resonance parameters of V2+ ions in both Cd2+ sites of CsCdCl3 crystal

From the perturbation formulas based on a two-spin-orbit-parameter model, the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) zero-field splitting (D), g-factors (g //, g perpendicular) and hyperfine structure constants (A //, A perpendicular) for V2+ in Cd2+ (I) and Cd2+ (II) sites of CsCdCl3 crystal at room and liquid nitrogen temperatures are calculated. From the calculations, the signs of zero-field splittings and hyperfine structure constants are determined and so all of the EPR parameters are explained reasonably on the basis of the structure data of lattice.