Spin-glass behavior of Sn{sub 0.9}Fe{sub 3.1}N: An experimental and quantum-theoretical study

Journal Article · Sun May 15 00:00:00 EDT 2016 · AIP Advances

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4948984· OSTI ID:22611703

Scholz, Tanja; Dronskowski, Richard ^[1]

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1. Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, 52056 Aachen (Germany)

Based on comprehensive experimental and quantum-theoretical investigations, we identify Sn{sub 0.9}Fe{sub 3.1}N as a canonical spin glass and the first ternary iron nitride with a frustrated spin ground state. Sn{sub 0.9}Fe{sub 3.1}N is the end member of the solid solution Sn{sub x}Fe{sub 4−x}N (0 < x ≤ 0.9) derived from ferromagnetic γ′-Fe{sub 4}N. Within the solid solution, the gradual incorporation of tin is accompanied by a drastic weakening of the ferromagnetic interactions. To explore the dilution of the ferromagnetic coupling, the highly tin-substituted Sn{sub 0.9}Fe{sub 3.1}N has been magnetically reinvestigated. DC magnetometry reveals diverging susceptibilities for FC and ZFC measurements at low temperatures and an unsaturated hysteretic loop even at high magnetic fields. The temperature dependence of the real component of the AC susceptibility at different frequencies proves the spin-glass transition with the characteristic parameters T{sub g}  =  12.83(6) K, τ{sup *} = 10{sup −11.8(2)} s, zv = 5.6(1) and ΔT{sub m}/(T{sub m} ⋅ Δlgω) = 0.015. The time-dependent response of the magnetic spins to the external field has been studied by extracting the distribution function of relaxation times g(τ, T) up to T{sub g} from the complex plane of AC susceptibilities. The weakening of the ferromagnetic coupling by substituting tin into γ′-Fe{sub 4}N is explained by the Stoner criterion on the basis of electronic structure calculations and a quantum-theoretical bonding analysis.

• OSTI ID: 22611703
• Journal Information: AIP Advances, Vol. 6, Issue 5; Other Information: (c) 2016 Author(s); Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 2158-3226
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
COUPLING
DILUTION
DISTRIBUTION
DISTRIBUTION FUNCTIONS
ELECTRONIC STRUCTURE
GROUND STATES
INTERACTIONS
IRON COMPOUNDS
IRON NITRIDES
MAGNETIC FIELDS
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
RELAXATION
SOLID SOLUTIONS
SOLIDS
SPIN
SPIN GLASS STATE
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
TIME DEPENDENCE
TIN COMPOUNDS