Europium nitride: a novel diluted magnetic semiconductor

Europium nitride is semiconducting and contains nonmagnetic Eu3+, but substoichiometric EuN has Eu in a mix of 2+ and 3+ charge states. We show that at Eu2+ concentrations near 15%-20% EuN is ferromagnetic with a Curie temperature as high as 120 K. The Eu3+ polarization follows that of the Eu2+, con...

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Published inPhysical review letters Vol. 111; no. 16; p. 167206
Main Authors Le Binh, Do, Ruck, B J, Natali, F, Warring, H, Trodahl, H J, Anton, E-M, Meyer, C, Ranno, L, Wilhelm, F, Rogalev, A
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 18.10.2013
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Summary:Europium nitride is semiconducting and contains nonmagnetic Eu3+, but substoichiometric EuN has Eu in a mix of 2+ and 3+ charge states. We show that at Eu2+ concentrations near 15%-20% EuN is ferromagnetic with a Curie temperature as high as 120 K. The Eu3+ polarization follows that of the Eu2+, confirming that the ferromagnetism is intrinsic to the EuN which is, thus, a novel diluted magnetic semiconductor. Transport measurements shed light on the likely exchange mechanisms.
ISSN:1079-7114
DOI:10.1103/PhysRevLett.111.167206