Origin of Robust Ferromagnetism in Eu_0.95Fe₄Sb₁₂

Journal Article · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 2007 · Physical Review Letters

OSTI ID:931445

Vemuru, Krishnamurthy V ^[1]; Lang, J. C. ^[2]; Haskel, D. ^[2]; Keavney, D. J. ^[2]; Srajer, G. ^[2]; Robertson, Lee ^[1]; Sales, Brian C ^[1]; Mandrus, David ^[1]; Singh, David J ^[1]; Bilc, Daniel I ^[1]

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1. ORNL
2. Argonne National Laboratory (ANL)

We combine x-ray magnetic circular dichroism spectroscopy at Fe L{sub 2,3} edges, at Eu M{sub 4,5} edges, x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) investigation of Eu valence, and local spin density calculations, to show that the filled skutterudite Eu{sub 0.95}Fe{sub 4}Sb{sub 12} is a ferrimagnet in which the Fe 3d moment and the Eu{sup 2+} 4f moment are magnetically ordered with dominant antiferromagnetic coupling. From Eu L{sub 3} edge XAS, we find that about 13% of the Eu have a formal valence of 3{sup +}. We ascribe the origin of ferrimagnetism at a relatively high transition temperature T{sub c} of 85 K in Eu{sub 0.95}Fe{sub 4}Sb{sub 12} to f-electron interaction with the nearly ferromagnetic [Fe{sub 4}Sb{sub 12}]{sup 2.2-} host lattice.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL); High Flux Isotope Reactor
• Sponsoring Organization: SC USDOE - Office of Science (SC)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-00OR22725
• OSTI ID: 931445
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters, Journal Name: Physical Review Letters Journal Issue: 12 Vol. 98; ISSN 0031-9007; ISSN PRLTAO
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
ANTIMONY ALLOYS
EUROPIUM ALLOYS
FERRIMAGNETISM
FERROMAGNETISM
IRON ALLOYS
MAGNETIC CIRCULAR DICHROISM
TRANSITION TEMPERATURE