Ferrimagnetism in EuFe4Sb12 due to the interplay of f-electron moments and a nearly ferromagnetic host

Journal Article · Thu Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 2007 · Physical Review Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.98.126403· OSTI ID:931905

Krishnamurthy, Vemuru ^[1]; Lang, J C ^[2]; Haskel, D ^[2]; Keavney, D J ^[2]; Srajer, G ^[2]; Robertson, J L ^[3]; Sales, Brian C ^[4]; Mandrus, David ^[4]; Singh, David J ^[4]; Bilc, Daniel I ^[4]

---

1. Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)
2. Argonne National Laboratory (ANL)
3. unknown
4. ORNL

We combine x-ray magnetic circular dichroism spectroscopy at Fe L-2,L-3 edges, at Eu M-4,M-5 edges, x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) investigation of Eu valence, and local spin density calculations, to show that the filled skutterudite Eu0.95Fe4Sb12 is a ferrimagnet in which the Fe 3d moment and the Eu2+ 4f moment are magnetically ordered with dominant antiferromagnetic coupling. From Eu L-3 edge XAS, we find that about 13% of the Eu have a formal valence of 3+. We ascribe the origin of ferrimagnetism at a relatively high transition temperature T-C of 85 K in Eu0.95Fe4Sb12 to f-electron interaction with the nearly ferromagnetic [Fe4Sb12](2.2-) host lattice.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)
• Sponsoring Organization: SC USDOE - Office of Science (SC)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-00OR22725
• OSTI ID: 931905
• 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
IRON ALLOYS
TRANSITION TEMPERATURE
VALENCE