Gallium Substituted "114" YBaFe4O7: From a ferrimagnetic cluster glass to a cationic disordered spin glass

The study of the ferrites YBaFe4-xGaxO7 shows that the substitution of Ga for Fe in YBaFe4O7 stabilizes the hexagonal symmetry for 0.40 < x < 0.70, at the expense of the cubic one. Using combined measurements of a. c. and d. c. magnetization, we establish that Ga substitution for Fe in YBaFe4O7 leads to an evolution from a geometrically frustrated spin glass (for x = 0) to a cationic disorder induced spin glass (x = 0.70). We also find an intermediate narrow range of doping where the samples are clearly phase separated having small ferrimagnetic clusters embedded in a spin glass matrix. The origin of the ferrimagnetic clusters lies in the change in symmetry of the samples from cubic to hexagonal (and a consequent lifting of the geometrical frustration) as a result of Ga doping. We also show the presence of exchange bias and domain wall pinning in these samples. The cause of both these effects can be traced back to the inherent phase separation present in the samples.Comment: 25 pages, 10 figure

Spin-locking effect in the nanoscale ordered perovskite cobaltite LaBaCo2O6

A new nanoscale ordered perovskite cobaltite, which consists of 90 degree ordered domains of the layered-112 LaBaCo2O6 has been evidenced by high resolution- transmission electron microscopy. This new form, like the disordered La0.5Ba0.5CoO3 and ordered LaBaCo2O6, exhibits a ferromagnetic transition at TC around 179 K. However, it differs from the two previous forms by its strong magnetic anisotropy, and correlatively by its high value of coercivity (0.42 Tesla) at low temperature. We suggest that this behaviour originates from the locking of magnetic spins in the 90 degree oriented nano-domain. Moreover, one observes a semi-metal/semi-metal transition at TC with a maximum magnetoresistance of 6.5 % at this temperature.Comment: 16 pages including figure

Electron transport and thermoelectric properties of layered perovskite LaBaCo2O5.5

We have investigated the systematic transport properties of the layered 112-type cobaltite LaBaCo2O5.5 by means of electrical resistivity, magnetoresistance, electroresistance and thermoelectric measurements in various conditions. In order to understand the complex conduction mechanism of LaBaCo2O5.5, the transport data have been analyzed using different theoretical models. The system shows semiconductor-semiconductor like transition (TSC) around 326K, corresponding to ferromagnetic transition and in the low temperature region resistivity data follows the Motts variable range hopping model. Interestingly, near and below the room temperature this compound depicts significant change in electro- and magnetoresistance behavior, the latter one is noteworthy near the magnetic phase boundary. The temperature dependence of thermopower, S(T), exhibits p-type polaronic conductivity in the temperature range of 60-320K and reaches a maximum value of 303 uV/K (at 120K). In the low temperature AFM region, the unusual S(T) behavior, generally observed for the cobaltite series LnBaCo2O5.5 (Ln = Rare Earth), is explained by the electron magnon scattering mechanism as previously described for perovskite manganites.Comment: 18 pages including fig

Transport and magnetic properties in YBaCo2O5.45: Focus on the high-temperature transition

The electronic transport properties and the magnetic susceptibility were measured in detail in $YBaCo_2O_{5.45}$. Close to the so-called metal-insulator transition, strong effects of resistance relaxation, a clear thermal hysteresis and a sudden increase of the resistance noise are observed. This is likely due to the first order character of the transition and to the underlying phases coexistence. Despite these out of equilibrium features, a positive and linear magneto-resistance is also observed, possibly linked to the heterogeneity of the state. From a magnetic point of view, the paramagnetic to ordered magnetic state transition is observed using non linear susceptibilty. This transition shows the characteristics of a continuous transition, and time dependent effects can be linked with the dynamics of magnetic domains in presence of disorder. Thus, when focusing on the order of the transitions, the electronic one and the magnetic one can not be directly associated.Comment: accepted for publication in PR

Spin glass freezing and superconductivity in YBa2(Cu(1-x)Fe(x))3O7 alloys

The dynamics were studied of the iron spins in superconducting YBa2(Cu(0.94)Fe(0.06))3O7 by neutron time of flight measurements. Two samples were studied with slightly different characteristics, as shown by resistivity and neutron diffraction measurements. The same dynamical anomalies are observed by neutrons in both samples. Differences appear qualitative but not quantitative. In the whole temperature range, the q-dependence of the magnetic intensity mainly reflects the magnetic form factor of iron which shows that the iron spins are almost uncorrelated. The elastic and quasielastic intensities strongly vary with temperature. A spin glass like freezing is revealed at low temperature by a sharp decrease of the quasielastic intensity, an increase of the 'elastic' or resolution limited intensity and a minimum in the quasielastic width. The freezing temperature (T sub f - 18 K) corresponds to that already determined by a magnetic splitting in Mossbauer experiments. Above T sub f, the relaxation of the iron spins in the paramagnetic state is modified by the occurrence of superconductivity. An increase was observed of the quasielastic intensity and of the quasielastic width at the superconducting transition

Enhancement of ferromagnetism by nickel doping in the 112 cobaltite EuBaCo2O5.50

The study of the ordered oxygen deficient perovskite EuBaCo2-xNixO5.50 shows that the doping of cobalt sites by nickel induces a strong ferromagnetic component at low temperature in the antiferromagnetic matrix of EuBaCo2O5.50. This system exhibits indeed phase separation, i.e. consists of ferromagnetic domains embedded in the antiferromagnetic matrix of EuBaCo2O5.50. Besides, a magnetic transition is observed for the first time at 40K in the undoped and nickel doped phases, which can be attributed to the ferromagnetic ordering of the Eu3+ moments below this temperature. Moreover sharp ultra magnetization multisteps are observed below 5K, characteristic of motion of domain walls in a strong pinning system and very different from any metamagnetic transition

Multiband orange-red photoluminescence of Eu3+ ions in new "114" LnBaZn(3)GaO(7) and LnBaZn(3)AlO(7) oxides

A new series of gallozincates LnBaZn(3)GaO(7) (Ln=La, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Y) and new aluminozincates LnBaZn(3)AlO(7) (Ln=Y, Eu, Dy) have been synthesized. Their structure refinements show that these phases belong to the "114" series, with hexagonal P6(3)mc space group previously described for SmBaZn3AlO7. The photoluminescence study of these oxides shows that the Eu3+ activated LnBaZn(3)MO(7) oxides with Ln=Y, La, Gd; and M=Al, Ga exhibit strong magnetic and electric dipole transitions (multiband emission) which is of interest for white light production. These results also confirm that the site occupied by Eu3+ is not strictly centrosymmetric. The electric dipole transition intensity is the highest in GdBaZn3MO7 [M=Al, Ga]: 0.05 Eu3+ as compared with other Eu3+ activated compositions. This is due to the layer distortion around GdO6 octahedra when compared with YO6 and LaO6 octahedra