Showing papers on "Ferromagnetism published in 2009"

Large voltage-induced magnetic anisotropy change in a few atomic layers of iron

Abstract: A voltage-induced symmetry change in a ferromagnetic material can change its magnetization or magnetic anisotropy, but these effects are too weak to be used in memory devices. Researchers have now shown that a relatively small electric field can cause a large change in the magnetic anisotropy of a few atomic layers of iron. The results could lead to low-power logic devices and non-volatile memory cells.

Magnetic memory of a single-molecule quantum magnet wired to a gold surface.

Abstract: In the field of molecular spintronics, the use of magnetic molecules for information technology is a main target and the observation of magnetic hysteresis on individual molecules organized on surfaces is a necessary step to develop molecular memory arrays. Although simple paramagnetic molecules can show surface-induced magnetic ordering and hysteresis when deposited on ferromagnetic surfaces, information storage at the molecular level requires molecules exhibiting an intrinsic remnant magnetization, like the so-called single-molecule magnets (SMMs). These have been intensively investigated for their rich quantum behaviour but no magnetic hysteresis has been so far reported for monolayers of SMMs on various non-magnetic substrates, most probably owing to the chemical instability of clusters on surfaces. Using X-ray absorption spectroscopy and X-ray magnetic circular dichroism synchrotron-based techniques, pushed to the limits in sensitivity and operated at sub-kelvin temperatures, we have now found that robust, tailor-made Fe(4) complexes retain magnetic hysteresis at gold surfaces. Our results demonstrate that isolated SMMs can be used for storing information. The road is now open to address individual molecules wired to a conducting surface in their blocked magnetization state, thereby enabling investigation of the elementary interactions between electron transport and magnetism degrees of freedom at the molecular scale.

Magnetocaloric effect and its relation to shape-memory properties in ferromagnetic Heusler alloys

Abstract: Magnetic Heusler alloys which undergo a martensitic transition display interesting functional properties. In the present review, we survey the magnetocaloric effects of Ni-Mn-based Heusler alloys and discuss their relation with the magnetic shape-memory and magnetic superelasticity reported in these materials. We show that all these effects are a consequence of a strong coupling between structure and magnetism which enables a magnetic field to rearrange martensitic variants as well as to provide the possibility to induce the martensitic transition. These two features are respectively controlled by the magnetic anisotropy of the martensitic phase and by the difference in magnetic moments between the structural phases. The relevance of each of these contributions to the magnetocaloric properties is analysed.

Ferromagnetism in Semihydrogenated Graphene Sheet

Abstract: Single layer of graphite (graphene) was predicted and later experimentally confirmed to undergo metal-semiconductor transition when fully hydrogenated (graphane). Using density functional theory we show that when half of the hydrogen in this graphane sheet is removed, the resulting semihydrogenated graphene (which we refer to as graphone) becomes a ferromagnetic semiconductor with a small indirect gap. Half-hydrogenation breaks the delocalized pi bonding network of graphene, leaving the electrons in the unhydrogenated carbon atoms localized and unpaired. The magnetic moments at these sites couple ferromagnetically with an estimated Curie temperature between 278 and 417 K, giving rise to an infinite magnetic sheet with structural integrity and magnetic homogeneity. This is very different from the widely studied finite graphene nanostrucures such as one-dimensional nanoribbons and two-dimensional nanoholes, where zigzag edges are necessary for magnetism. From graphene to graphane and to graphone, the system evolves from metallic to semiconducting and from nonmagnetic to magnetic. Hydrogenation provides a novel way to tune the properties with unprecedented potentials for applications.

Room-temperature ferromagnetism of graphene.

Abstract: Aiming at molecular-based magnets, ferromagnetism of pure carbon-based materials is fundamentally and technologically extremely important for many applications. While it is still not fully understood, many recent theoretical works have suggested that one-atom-thick two-dimensional graphene materials may show ferromagnetism due to the existence of various defects or topological structures as the spin units and the possible long-range ordered coupling among them. Here, we report the experimental results on the ferromagnetism of graphene-based materials at room temperature. The observed room-temperature ferromagnetism is believed to come from the defects on graphene.

Room-temperature ferromagnetism in graphite driven by two-dimensional networks of point defects

Abstract: Ferromagnetism usually only occurs in materials containing elements that form covalent 3d and 4f bonds. Its occurrence in pure carbon is therefore surprising, even controversial. A systematic magnetic force microscope study indicates that ferromagnetism in graphite is the result of localized spins that arise at grain boundaries.

Manipulation of the Majorana fermion, Andreev reflection, and Josephson current on topological insulators.

Abstract: We study theoretically the transport properties of a normal metal (N)/ferromagnet insulator (FI)/superconductor (S) junction and a S/FI/S junction formed on the surface of a three-dimensional topological insulator, where the chiral Majorana mode exists at the FI/S interface. We find the chiral Majorana mode generated in N/FI/S and S/FI/S junctions is very sensitively controlled by the direction of the magnetization m in the FI region. In particular, the current-phase relation of the Josephson current in S/FI/S junctions has a phase shift of neither 0 nor pi that can be tuned continuously by the component of m perpendicular to the interface.

Magnetic Field-Induced Phase Transformation in NiMnCoIn Magnetic Shape-Memory Alloys—A New Actuation Mechanism with Large Work Output

Abstract: Magnetic shape memory alloys (MSMAs) have recently been developed into a new class of functional materials that are capable of magnetic-field-induced actuation, mechanical sensing, magnetic refrigeration, and energy harvesting. In the present work, the magnetic field-induced martensitic phase transformation (FIPT) in Ni{sub 45}Mn{sub 36.5}Co{sub 5}In{sub 13.5} MSMA single crystals is characterized as a new actuation mechanism with potential to result in ultra-high actuation work outputs. The effects of the applied magnetic field on the transformation temperatures, magnetization, and superelastic response are investigated. The magnetic work output of NiMnCoIn alloys is determined to be more than 1 MJ m{sup -3} per Tesla, which is one order of magnitude higher than that of the most well-known MSMAs, i.e., NiMnGa alloys. In addition, the work output of NiMnCoIn alloys is orientation independent, potentially surpassing the need for single crystals, and not limited by a saturation magnetic field, as opposed to NiMnGa MSMAs. Experimental and theoretical transformation strains and magnetostress levels are determined as a function of crystal orientation. It is found that [111]-oriented crystals can demonstrate a magnetostress level of 140 MPa T{sup -1} with 1.2% axial strain under compression. These field-induced stress and strain levels are significantly higher than those from existingmore » piezoelectric and magnetostrictive actuators. A thermodynamical framework is introduced to comprehend the magnetic energy contributions during FIPT. The present work reveals that the magnetic FIPT mechanism is promising for magnetic actuation applications and provides new opportunities for applications requiring high actuation work-outputs with relatively large actuation frequencies. One potential issue is the requirement for relatively high critical magnetic fields and field intervals (1.5-3 T) for the onset of FIPT and for reversible FIPT, respectively.« less

Origin and Enhancement of Hole-Induced Ferromagnetism in First-Row d(0) Semiconductors

Abstract: The origin of ferromagnetism in d;{0} semiconductors is studied using first-principles methods with ZnO as a prototype material. We show that the presence of spontaneous magnetization in nitrides and oxides with sufficient holes is an intrinsic property of these first-row d;{0} semiconductors and can be attributed to the localized nature of the 2p states of O and N. We find that acceptor doping, especially doping at the anion site, can enhance the ferromagnetism with much smaller threshold hole concentrations. The quantum confinement effect also reduces the critical hole concentration to induce ferromagnetism in ZnO nanowires. The characteristic nonmonotonic spin couplings in these systems are explained in terms of the band coupling model.

Giant Modification of the Magnetocrystalline Anisotropy in Transition-Metal Monolayers by an External Electric Field

Abstract: Controlling and designing quantum magnetic properties by an external electric field is a key challenge in modern magnetic physics. Here, from first principles, the effects of an external electric field on the magnetocrystalline anisotropy (MCA) in ferromagnetic transition-metal monolayers are demonstrated which show that the MCA in an Fe(001) monolayer [but not in Co(001) and Ni(001) monolayers] can be controlled by the electric field through a change in band structure, in which small components of the p orbitals near the Fermi level, which are coupled to the d states by the electric field, play a key role. This prediction obtained opens a way to control the MCA by the electric field and invites experiments.

Magnetization study of nanograined pure and Mn-doped ZnO films: Formation of a ferromagnetic grain-boundary foam

Abstract: In order to elucidate room-temperature (RT) ferromagnetism (FM) in ZnO, we have analyzed a multitude of experimental publications with respect to the ratio of grain-boundary (GB) area to grain volume. FM only appears if this ratio exceeds a certain threshold value ${s}_{\text{th}}$. Based on these important results nanograined pure and Mn-doped ZnO films have been prepared, which reveal reproducible RT FM and magnetization proportional to the film thickness, even for pure ZnO films. Our findings strongly suggest that grain boundaries and related vacancies are the intrinsic origin for RT ferromagnetism.

The Stoner–Wohlfarth model of ferromagnetism

Abstract: The Stoner–Wohlfarth (SW) model is the simplest model that describes adequately the physics of fine magnetic grains, the magnetization of which can be used in digital magnetic storage (floppies, hard disks and tapes). Magnetic storage density is presently increasing steadily in almost the same way as electronic device size and circuitry are shrinking, and magnetism in general appears as a new contender for many novel computing applications that were considered traditionally beyond its range. Denser storage leads to finer magnetic grains and smaller size leads to magnetic grains so fine that they contain a single magnetic domain, i.e. a region in the material with a well-defined uniform magnetization best described with the mathematics of the SW model.

Novel Magnetic Properties of Graphene: Presence of Both Ferromagnetic and Antiferromagnetic Features and Other Aspects

Abstract: Investigations of the magnetic properties of graphenes prepared by different methods reveal that dominant ferromagnetic interactions coexist along with antiferromagnetic interactions in all of the samples, somewhat like in frustrated or phase-separated systems. All of the graphene samples exhibit room-temperature magnetic hysteresis. The magnetic properties of the graphene samples depend on the number of layers and the sample area, small values of both favoring larger magnetization. Molecular charge-transfer affects the magnetic properties of graphene, interaction with a donor molecule such as tetrathiafulvalene having greater effect than with an electron-withdrawing molecule such as tetracyanoethylene.

Itinerant Ferromagnetism in a Fermi Gas of Ultracold Atoms

Abstract: Can a gas of spin-up and spin-down fermions become ferromagnetic because of repulsive interactions? We addressed this question, for which there is not yet a definitive theoretical answer, in an experiment with an ultracold two-component Fermi gas. The observation of nonmonotonic behavior of lifetime, kinetic energy, and size for increasing repulsive interactions provides strong evidence for a phase transition to a ferromagnetic state. Our observations imply that itinerant ferromagnetism of delocalized fermions is possible without lattice and band structure, and our data validate the most basic model for ferromagnetism introduced by Stoner.

Magnetic anisotropy of dysprosium(III) in a low-symmetry environment: a theoretical and experimental investigation.

Abstract: A mixed theoretical and experimental approach was used to determine the local magnetic anisotropy of the dysprosium(III) ion in a low-symmetry environment. The susceptibility tensor of the monomeric species having the formula [Dy(hfac)(3)(NIT-C(6)H(4)-OEt)(2)], which contains nitronyl nitroxide (NIT-R) radicals, was determined at various temperatures through angle-resolved magnetometry. These results are in agreement with ab initio calculations performed using the complete active space self-consistent field (CASSCF) method, validating the predictive power of this theoretical approach for complex systems containing rare-earth ions, even in low-symmetry environments. Susceptibility measurements performed with the applied field along the easy axis eventually permitted a detailed analysis of the temperature and field dependence of the magnetization, providing evidence that the Dy ion transmits an antiferromagnetic interaction between radicals but that the Dy-radical interaction is ferromagnetic.

Thermoelectric effects in transport through quantum dots attached to ferromagnetic leads with noncollinear magnetic moments

Abstract: Charge transport accompanied by heat transfer through a single-level quantum dot coupled to ferromagnetic leads with noncollinear magnetic moments is studied theoretically in the linear and nonlinear transport regimes. Calculations performed in the framework of nonequilibrium Green's function formalism and the equation of motion method reveal a significant influence of Coulomb blockade on thermal transport processes. The thermopower $S$ and thermal efficiency described by the figure of merit $ZT$ depend on magnetic configuration of the system. Two physically different situations are considered; one appears when spin accumulation is excluded and the second one when spin accumulation is relevant. In the latter case we also calculate the corresponding spin thermopower. Apart from this, magnetothermopower is introduced and discussed.

Multiferroic properties of layer-structured Bi5Fe0.5Co0.5Ti3O15 ceramics

Abstract: Layer-structured, single phase Bi5Fe0.5Co0.5Ti3O15 ceramics was synthesized following a multicalcination procedure. Magnetic moment increases more than three times by substituting half Fe sites by Co ions. The material exhibits an Aurivillius phase with a four-layer unit cell structure, and presents a remarkable coexistence of ferroelectricity and ferromagnetism above room temperature. The measured 2Pr and 2Mr are 13 μC/cm2 and 7.8 memu/g, respectively. The material’s magnetic behavior below 275 °C is relaxationlike and its magnetic Curie temperature is ∼345 °C.

Ultracold gases of ytterbium: ferromagnetism and Mott states in an SU(6) Fermi system

Abstract: It is argued that an ultracold quantum degenerate gas of ytterbium 173Yb atoms having nuclear spin I=5/2 exhibits an enlarged SU(6) symmetry. Within the Landau Fermi liquid theory, stability criteria against Fermi liquid (Pomeranchuk) instabilities in the spin channel are considered. Focusing on the SU(n>2) generalizations of ferromagnetism, it is shown within mean-field theory that the transition from the paramagnet to the itinerant ferromagnet is generically first order. On symmetry grounds, general SU(n) itinerant ferromagnetic ground states and their topological excitations are also discussed. These SU(n>2) ferromagnets can become stable by increasing the scattering length using optical methods or in an optical lattice. However, in an optical lattice at current experimental temperatures, Mott states with different filling are expected to coexist in the same trap, as obtained from a calculation based on the SU(6) Hubbard model.

Nucleation of superconductivity and vortex matter in superconductor–ferromagnet hybrids

Abstract: The theoretical and experimental results concerning the thermodynamical and low-frequency transport properties of hybrid structures, consisting of spatially separated conventional low-temperature superconductors (S) and ferromagnets (F), are reviewed. Since the superconducting and ferromagnetic parts are assumed to be electrically insulated, no proximity effect is present and thus the interaction between both subsystems is through their respective magnetic stray fields. Depending on the temperature range and the value of the external field Hext, different behavior of such S/F hybrids is anticipated. Rather close to the superconducting phase transition line, when the superconducting state is only weakly developed, the magnetization of the ferromagnet is solely determined by the magnetic history of the system and it is not influenced by the field generated by the supercurrents. In contrast to that, the nonuniform magnetic field pattern, induced by the ferromagnet, strongly affects the nucleation of superconductivity, leading to an exotic dependence of the critical temperature Tc on Hext. Deeper in the superconducting state the effect of the screening currents cannot be neglected anymore. In this region of the phase diagram T–Hext various aspects of the interaction between vortices and magnetic inhomogeneities are discussed. In the last section we briefly summarize the physics of S/F hybrids when the magnetization of the ferromagnet is no longer fixed but can change under the influence of the superconducting currents. As a consequence, the superconductor and ferromagnet become truly coupled and the equilibrium configuration of this 'soft' S/F hybrid requires rearrangements of both superconducting and ferromagnetic characteristics, as compared with 'hard' S/F structures.

Metallic and ferromagnetic edges in molybdenum disulfide nanoribbons.

Abstract: The magnetic and electronic properties of MoS2 nanoribbons with zigzag and armchair edges are investigated using LSDA-DFT. We found that the properties of the nanoribbons are very different from bulk MoS2 due to edge states. Armchair nanoribbons could be metallic and exhibit a magnetic moment; however, when passivating with hydrogen, they become semiconducting. Zigzag nanoribbons are metallic and exhibit unusual magnetic properties regardless of passivation. Our results could explain the recent evidence of ferromagnetism in flat MoS2 clusters, and motivate the synthesis of novel MoS2 nanosystems

Room temperature ferromagnetism of pure ZnO nanoparticles

Abstract: We report the room temperature ferromagnetism (RTF) of pure ZnO nanoparticles, which were prepared by coprecipitation method. Magnetization measurement indicates that the ZnO nanoparticles annealed in air at 450, 550, 650, and 800 °C exhibit the RTF and the decrease in the ferromagnetism is performed with the increase in annealed temperature. Selected area electron diffraction, x-ray diffraction, and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements show that all the samples possess a typical wurtzite structure and no other impurity phases are observed. The results of the Raman spectra indicate that there are lots of defects existing in the fabricated samples. It is also found that the ferromagnetism of ZnO nanoparticles increases after annealing in vacuum condition and decreases after annealing in a rich-oxygen atmosphere. These results confirm that the oxygen vacancies play an important role in introducing ferromagnetism for the ZnO nanoparticles in our case.

Effect of alkaline earth metal doping on thermal, optical, magnetic and dielectric properties of BiFeO3 nanoparticles

Abstract: Substrate-free pure-phase BiFeO3 (BFO) nanoparticles doped with alkaline earth metals (Ba, Sr and Ca) have been synthesized by a sol–gel route and their thermal, optical, dielectric and magnetic properties are discussed. The characteristic structural phase transitions of BFO nanoparticles are found to occur at much lower temperatures. A reduction of the Neel temperature has been observed in the doped samples in comparison with the pristine one, whereas the band gap shows a reverse trend. Iron was found to be only in the Fe3+ valence state in all the doped samples. Magnetoelectric coupling is seen in our samples. Weak ferromagnetism is observed at room temperature in all of the doped and undoped BFO nanoparticles with the largest value of coercive field ~1.78 kOe and saturation magnetization ~2.38 emu g−1 for Ba and Ca doped BFO nanoparticles, respectively.

Electric Field Switching of the Magnetic Anisotropy of a Ferromagnetic Layer Exchange Coupled to the Multiferroic Compound BiFeO 3

Abstract: We report here that a Permalloy layer deposited on top of a multiferroic ${\mathrm{BiFeO}}_{3}$ single crystal acquires an easy magnetic direction along the propagation vector of the cycloidal arrangement of antiferromagnetic moments in ${\mathrm{BiFeO}}_{3}$. This anisotropy originates from a direct magnetic coupling with the canted spins forming the cycloid. Moreover, we show that an electric field-induced change of electric polarization is able to toggle the direction of anisotropy in the ferromagnet through the magnetoelectric effect, which links the antiferromagnetic spins to the local polarization in ${\mathrm{BiFeO}}_{3}$.

Coexistence of ferromagnetism and cluster glass state in superconducting ferromagnet RuSr2Eu1.5Ce0.5Cu2O10−δ

Abstract: Systematic dc and ac magnetic susceptibility measurements performed on RuSr2Eu15Ce05Cu2O10−δ (Ru1222) demonstrate a paramagnetic to ferromagnetic transition around 95 K The third harmonic of the ac susceptibility reveals that the system undergoes a spin glass transition below 75 K The features of the zero-field cooled and field cooled dc magnetization curves of Ru1222 material resemble those of a cluster glass state, rather than those of a canonical spin glass state The magnetization versus applied field loops do not saturate, even at very high applied fields, resulting in the short range magnetic order in the system, which facilitates the formation of clusters that freeze at low temperature The temperature dependence of the second and third harmonic ac susceptibilities further confirms the coexistence of a cluster glass state and ferromagnetic order in the Ru1222 system

Magnetism and band gap narrowing in Cu-doped ZnO

Abstract: First-principles calculations based on density functional theory are performed to study the magnetic, electronic, and optical properties of ZnO doped with 6.25%, 12.5%, and 18.75% of Cu. The Cu dopants are found spin polarized, and a net magnetic moment of 0.57µB is found for Cu at a composition of 6.25%. The calculations confirm an appreciable band gap reduction in ZnO in agreement with recent experimental results. The analysis of the partial density of states reveals that ferromagnetism and narrowing of ZnO band gap are due principally to the strong p-d mixing of O and Cu

Voltage-Assisted Magnetization Switching in Ultrathin Fe80Co20 Alloy Layers

Abstract: Growing demands for the voltage-driven spintronic applications with ultralow-power consumption have led to new interest in exploring the voltage-induced magnetization switching in ferromagnetic metals. In this study, we observed a large perpendicular magnetic anisotropy change in Au(001)/ultrathin Fe80Co20(001)/MgO(001)/polyimide/indium tin oxide (ITO) junctions, and succeeded in realizing a clear switching of magnetic easy axis between in-plane and perpendicular directions. Furthermore, employing a perpendicularly magnetized film, voltage-induced magnetization switching in the perpendicular direction under the assistance of magnetic fields was demonstrated. These pioneering results may open a new window of electric-field controlled spintronics devices.

Critical thickness for itinerant ferromagnetism in ultrathin films of SrRuO3

Abstract: Ultrathin films of the itinerant ferromagnet ${\text{SrRuO}}_{3}$ were studied using the transport and magneto-optic polar Kerr effect. We find that below 4 monolayers, the films become insulating and their magnetic character changes as they loose their simple ferromagnetic behavior. We observe a strong reduction in the magnetic moment which for 3 monolayers and below lies in the plane of the film. Exchange-bias behavior is observed below the critical thickness and may point to induced antiferromagnetism in contact with ferromagnetic regions.