Investigation of cation distribution, electrical, magnetic properties and their correlation in Mn2-xCo2xNi1-xO4 films

• Published in: Journal of applied physics Vol. 115; no. 11
• Main Authors: Wu, Jing, Huang, Zhiming, Zhou, Wei, Ouyang, Cheng, Hou, Yun, Gao, Yanqing, Chen, Ren, Chu, Junhao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Melville American Institute of Physics 21.03.2014
• Subjects: Antiferromagnetism; Applied physics; Cations; Cooling curves; Crystals; Divergence; Electrical measurement; Electrical resistivity; Ferromagnetism; Hopping conduction; Magnetic properties; Magnetic transitions; Magnetism; Magnetization; Magnetization curves; Manganese; Neel temperature; Nickel; Transition temperature; X ray spectra
• ISSN: 0021-8979; 1089-7550
• DOI: 10.1063/1.4868683

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was performed on Mn2-xCo2xNi1-xO4 (x = 0.2, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, and 0.8) series spinel films to determine their cation distributions. The results show that both Ni and Co ions exhibit bivalence, while Mn ions exhibit coexisting multivalence. The hopping frequency ν0 of each sample was obtained by combining cation distribution results and electrical measurement data. Analysis of the divergence at Neel temperature between field cooling and zero-field cooling magnetization curves revealed that the ferromagnetic coupling between octahedral site ions first leads to spontaneous magnetization at TC, after which a second spontaneous magnetization arises from the antiferromagnetic couple between tetrahedral and octahedral sites at a lower temperature TN. The correlation between hopping conductivity and magnetic transition temperature is discussed. We propose that the strength of the ferromagnetic couple between octahedral sites is subject to the product term of Nc(1 − c)ν0, which determines the ferromagnetic transition temperature (TC) of the system. Our results provide an avenue to understand the origin of magnetic interaction in small-polaron hopping semiconductors.