Controlling magnetic order, magnetic anisotropy, and band topology in the semimetals Sr(Mn0.9Cu0.1)Sb-2 and Sr(Mn0.9Zn0.1)Sb-2

Yong Liu
2020
Article

Résumé

Neutron diffraction and magnetic susceptibility studies show that orthorhombic single-crystals of topological semimetals Sr(Mn0.9Cu0.1)Sb-2 and Sr(Mn0.9Zn0.1)Sb-2 undergo three-dimensional C-type antiferromagnetic (AFM) ordering of the Mn2+ moments at T-N = 200 +/- 10 and 210 +/- 12 K, respectively, significantly lower than that of the parent SrMnSb2 with T-N = 297 +/- 3 K. Magnetization versus applied magnetic field (perpendicular to MnSb planes) below T-N exhibits slightly modified de Haas van Alphen oscillations for the Zn-doped crystal as compared to that of the parent compound. By contrast, the Cu-doped system does not show de Haas van Alphen magnetic oscillations, suggesting that either Cu substitution for Mn changes the electronic structure of the parent compound substantially, or that the Cu sites are strong scatterers of carriers that significantly shorten their mean free path thus diminishing the oscillations. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations including spin-orbit coupling predict the C-type AFM state for the parent, Cu-, and Zn-doped systems and identify the a-axis (i.e., perpendicular to the Mn layer) as the easy magnetization direction in the parent and 12.5% of Cu or Zn substitutions. In contrast, 25% of Cu content changes the easy magnetization to the b-axis (i.e., within the Mn layer). We find that the incorporation of Cu and Zn in SrMnSb2 tunes electronic bands near the Fermi level resulting in different band topology and semimetallicity. The parent and Zn-doped systems have coexistence of electron and hole pockets with opened Dirac cone around the Y-point whereas the Cu-doped system has dominant hole pockets around the Fermi level with a distorted Dirac cone. The tunable electronic structure may point out possibilities of rationalizing the experimentally observed de Haas van Alphen magnetic oscillations.

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Yong Liu
2020
Article

Résumé

Official source

https://infoscience.epfl.ch/record/279768?ln=fr

À propos de ce résultat

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Long-range magnetic ordering and short-range spin correlations in layered noncentrosymmetric orthogermanate Li2MnGeO4 were studied by means of polarized and unpolarized neutron scattering. The combined Rietveld refinement of synchrotron and neutron powder diffraction data at room temperature within the Pmn2(1) space group allowed us to specify the details of the crystal structure. According to the additional Bragg peaks in low-temperature neutron diffraction patterns a long-range antiferromagnetic ordering with the propagation vector k = (1/2 1/2 1/2) has been found below T-N approximate to 8 K. Symmetry analysis revealed the model of the ground state spin structure within the C(a)c (no. 9.41) magnetic space group. It is represented by the noncollinear ordering of manganese atoms with a refined magnetic moment of 4.9 mu(B)/Mn2+ at 1.7 K, which corresponds to the saturated value for the high-spin configuration S = 5/2. Diffuse magnetic scattering was detected on the neutron diffraction patterns at temperatures just above T-N. Its temperature evolution was investigated in detail by polarized neutron scattering with the following XYZ-polarization analysis. Reverse Monte Carlo simulation of diffuse scattering data showed the development of short-range ordering in Li2MnGeO4, which is symmetry consistent on a small scale with the long-range magnetic state below T-N. The reconstructed radial spin-pair correlation function S(0)S(r) displayed the predominant role of antiferromagnetic correlations. It was found that spin correlations are significant only for the nearest magnetic neighbors and almost disappear at r approximate to 12 angstrom at 10 K. Temperature dependence of the diffuse scattering implies short-range ordering long before the magnetic phase transition. Besides, the spin arrangement was found to be similar in both cases above and below T-N. As a result, an exhaustive picture of the gradual formation of magnetic ordering in Li2MnGeO4 is presented.

2020

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Growth, electronic structure and magnetism of supported metal nanowires

Pietro Gambardella

This thesis describes experiments with one-dimensional atomic chains grown by step decoration of vicinal Pt surfaces. The objective of the research was twofold: first, to characterize metal epitaxial growth on stepped substrates; second, to make use of this knowledge to fabricate arrays of monatomic metal wires in order to investigate their electronic and magnetic properties. The first part focuses on molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) of Ag, Cu, Co, and Ni on densely stepped Pt surfaces (one monatomic step every 20 Å). Growth was investigated on the atomic scale as a function of the substrate temperature and coverage by means of thermal energy atom scattering (TEAS) and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). A wide variety of growth scenarios has been characterized depending on the choice of the overlayer material and on the interplay between surface diffusion, strain and alloying. Uniform arrays of one-dimensional atomic chains of Ag, Cu, and Co can be fabricated in a well defined temperature range. The growth of alternate wires of different metals was also investigated. In the second part we have studied the chemisorption of O2, CO, and H2, at Pt and at Ag-decorated Pt steps. We have identified the Pt edge atoms at the top of the step as the most active sites for O2 dissociation. Controlled decoration of the Pt steps by monatomic Ag wires was used to locally vary the reactivity of the Pt edge atoms and to further elucidate the dissociation process. Ag decoration results in a selective modification of the adsorption rate of O2, CO, and H2 on Pt stepped surfaces. The third part deals with the electronic and magnetic properties of Co monatomic wires grown on Pt(997). We have investigated the wire-induced valence band states by means of angle resolved photoemission (ARPES). Co 3d states attributed to monatomic chains display a double-peaked structure that suggests the presence of a one-dimensional exchange-split band. The magnetic behavior of the Co chains was studied by x-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD). Co monatomic chains are superparamagnetic with blocking temperature between 5 and 10 K. The one-dimensional character of the wires shows up in a pronounced uniaxial magnetic anisotropy and in large values of the orbital magnetic moment compared to bulk Co and thin films.

EPFL2000

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Ferroelectric perovskite oxides are widely used in sensors, actuators and optical modulators and, at the same time, they show promise for implementation in future applications such as energy storage, memory and cooling devices. At the infancy of the discovery of polycrystalline ferroelectrics, BaTiO3 was considered as a candidate for various applications, but the breakthrough for the commercialization of ferroelectrics came in 1952 when the ferroelectric PbZrO3 - PbTiO3 (PZT) solid solution system was discovered. PZT and other lead containing perovskite oxides remained on the forefront of scientific and industrial interest. However, concerns over the environmental and health hazards posed by these toxic materials in the electronic and electrical equipment created a legislation change. Nowadays, all applicable products in the EU must pass RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances also known as Directive 2002/95/EC) compliance. This change in the industrial standards fueled research in lead-free ferroelectric materials once again. Attention is currently placed on materials based on BaTiO3, BaZrO3, (Na/K)NbO3, Na1/2Bi1/2TiO3. Their widespread application is yet to be realized as their physical properties pale in comparison to PZT. Substantial challenges also lie in the miniaturization of polar perovskites where effects at nano and microscopic scales become dominant, which inhibit their performance.In this thesis one of the most prominent lead-free ferroelectric perovskites BaTiO3 is studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques in combination with in situ temperature and electric field control. In detail, a reliable focused ion beam sample preparation for in situ TEM electrical biasing for ferroelectrics is established. The method is tested on BaTiO3 at room temperature, where the electrical response is observed at the expected field values, further confirmed by finite element calculations. Domain area (polarization) - applied bias loops are directly measured revealing strong pinning at lower fields, while higher fields depin domain walls allowing for more free movement following Rayleigh's law.Upon increasing the temperature, BaTiO3 exhibits morphological transformations in its domain structure from ferroelectric 180° (close to room temperature) to ferroelastic 90° state (below the Curie temperature). Electrical biasing experiments of ferroelastic needle domains show two different forward growth mechanisms. In one case, the needle domains are shown to move freely, influenced mainly by Peierls-like potentials, while when perpendicular domains meet, their movement is hindered by strong domain domain pinning mediated by electromechanical fields. The latter one produces square shaped P-E like loops with distinct steps, indicative of Barkhausen pulses.Finally, the effect of ferroelectric phase transition on the electronic structure is studied with in situ electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Core-loss EELS measurements show that changes in the Ti 3d states qualitatively agree with DFT calculations. Off-axis low-loss EELS allows precise bandgap measurements in both phases. Custom experimental and data treatment methodologies are developed to retrieve momentum resolved dielectric functions, which show excellent fit with DFT calculated ones at small momentum transfer. A pathway to study oxygen deficient perovskites with EELS is theoretically demonstrated with DFT.

EPFL2022

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EPFL2022

Growth, electronic structure and magnetism of supported metal nanowires

Pietro Gambardella

EPFL2000