Spontaneous formation of an exchange-spring composite via magnetic phase separation in Pr{sub 1-x}Ca{sub x}CoO{sub 3}.

Journal Article · Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2010 · Phys. Rev. B

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.82.100411· OSTI ID:991102

El-Khatib, S; Bose, S; He, C; Kuplic, J; Laver, M; Borchers, J A; Huang, Q; Lynn, J W; Mitchell, J F; Leighton, C; NIST,

We present a neutron-diffraction, small-angle scattering, and magnetometry study of the narrow bandwidth perovskite cobaltite Pr{sub 1-x}Ca{sub x}CoO{sub 3}, demonstrating an unusual form of magnetoelectronic phase separation where long-range ordered ferromagnetism coexists spatially with short-range ferromagnetism. The two phases have very different coercivities and, remarkably, are strongly exchange coupled. The electronic phase separation thus leads to spontaneous formation of a hard-soft nanocomposite, exhibiting prototypical exchange-spring behavior in the absence of chemical interfaces.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC); National Science Foundation (NSF)
• DOE Contract Number: DE-AC02-06CH11357
• OSTI ID: 991102
• Report Number(s): ANL/MSD/JA-68119; TRN: US201020%%697
• Journal Information: Phys. Rev. B, Vol. 82, Issue 2010
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: ENGLISH

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY
FERROMAGNETISM
NEUTRON DIFFRACTION
PEROVSKITE
SMALL ANGLE SCATTERING
PRASEODYMIUM OXIDES
CALCIUM OXIDES
COBALT OXIDES
PHASE STUDIES
NANOSTRUCTURES