Revisiting the properties of delafossite CuCrO{sub 2}: A single crystal study

Journal Article · Sun Jan 15 00:00:00 EST 2012 · Journal of Solid State Chemistry

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jssc.2011.10.047· OSTI ID:21612850

Poienar, Maria ^[1]; Hardy, Vincent; Kundys, Bohdan; Singh, Kiran; Maignan, Antoine ^[1]; Damay, Francoise ^[2]; Martin, Christine ^[1]

---

1. Laboratoire CRISMAT, UMR 6508 CNRS, ENSICAEN, 6 Bd. du Marechal Juin, 14050 Caen Cedex (France)
2. Laboratoire Leon Brillouin, CEA-CNRS UMR12, CEA-Saclay, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex (France)

Platelet-like single-crystals of delafossite CuCrO{sub 2} have been successfully grown and characterised by X-ray diffraction and pole figures, scanning electron and atomic force microscopy. Transport measurements reveal that the resistivity is highly anisotropic, with a ratio of about 35 at 300 K between the in- and out-of-plane directions, reflecting the layered crystal structure. The magnetization and specific heat data show that CuCrO{sub 2} undergoes a unique antiferromagnetic transition at T{sub N}=24.0 K, in contrast to a recent report on CuCrO{sub 2} single-crystals showing the existence of two magnetic transitions, T{sub N1}=24.2 K and T{sub N2}=23.6 K, depending on the orientation of the applied magnetic field along and perpendicular to c, respectively. - Graphical abstract: 3R-CuCrO{sub 2} platelet-like single crystals have been successfully grown by the flux method. As revealed by {chi}(T) and C(T) measurements, their properties are characterised by a unique antiferromagnetic transition at T{sub N}=24 K. Interestingly, despite a very small magnetic anisotropy, a large one is evidenced by the resistivity ratio, {rho}{sub c}/{rho}{sub ab}{approx}35, at 300 K. This suggests an easier charge hopping in the [CrO{sub 2}] planes rather than along (Cr-O-Cu) pathways, i.e. along c axis. Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer R-CuCrO{sub 2} plate-like single crystals have been synthesised by the flux method. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Growth takes place layer-by-layer and some growth defects have been observed. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer CuCrO{sub 2} single crystals exhibit a unique antiferromagnetic transition at T{sub N}=24 K. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Transport measurements reveal that the resistivity is highly anisotropic.

• OSTI ID: 21612850
• Journal Information: Journal of Solid State Chemistry, Vol. 185; Other Information: DOI: 10.1016/j.jssc.2011.10.047; PII: S0022-4596(11)00589-5; Copyright (c) 2011 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0022-4596
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
ANISOTROPY
ANTIFERROMAGNETISM
ATOMIC FORCE MICROSCOPY
CHROMIUM OXIDES
DEFECTS
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
ELECTRON SCANNING
LAYERS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETIC PROPERTIES
MONOCRYSTALS
MORPHOLOGY
SPECIFIC HEAT
X-RAY DIFFRACTION
CHALCOGENIDES
CHROMIUM COMPOUNDS
COHERENT SCATTERING
CRYSTALS
DIFFRACTION
MAGNETISM
MICROSCOPY
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
SCATTERING
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS