skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Magnetic ordering in the pyrochlore Ho{sub 2}CrSbO{sub 7} determined from neutron diffraction, and the magnetic properties of other RE{sub 2}CrSbO{sub 7} phases (RE=Y, Tb, Dy, Er)

Journal Article · · Journal of Solid State Chemistry

The magnetic structure of the pyrochlore Ho{sub 2}CrSbO{sub 7}, which orders magnetically below 13 K, has been studied using neutron powder diffraction. Ho{sub 2}CrSbO{sub 7} is found to form an “ordered spin-ice structure” where the magnetic moments are constrained along the 111 axes, but with a ferromagnetic moment in one direction. The Cr{sup 3+} ions order ferromagnetically and this is thought to lift the degeneracy of the x, y and z directions in the cubic structure causing the ferromagnetic component from the Ho{sup 3+} ions to align. The pyrochlores RE{sub 2}CrSbO{sub 7} where RE=Y, Tb, Dy and Er have also been prepared and studied using SQUID magnetometry. - Graphical abstract: The Ho magnetic moments align to provide an overall ferromagnetic moment along [001]. - Highlights: • Despite having inherent frustration on the Ho sublattice, Ho{sub 2}CrSbO{sub 7} orders ferromagnetically below 13 K. • Ordering on the Cr/Sb sublattice appears to remove the degenerate ground state for the Ho order. • The Ho{sup 3+} magnetic moments are aligned along <111> directions by crystal field effects. • Y{sub 2}CrSbO{sub 7} with diamagnetic Y{sup 3+} ions also has a ferromagnetic ground state.

OSTI ID:
22334277
Journal Information:
Journal of Solid State Chemistry, Vol. 215; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2014 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