arXiv subjects

Dipten Bhattacharya

Publications and source records attributed to Dipten Bhattacharya.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2013

Spontaneous exchange bias in a nanocomposite of BiFeO$_3$-Bi$_2$Fe$_4$O$_9$

We have observed a large as well as path-dependent spontaneous exchange bias (H$_{SEB}$) ($\sim$30-60 mT) in a nanocomposite of BiFeO$_3$-Bi$_2$Fe$_4$O$_9$ across 5-300 K when it is measured in an unmagnetized state following zero-field cooling and appropriate demagnetization. The path dependency yields a variation in the exchange bias depending on the sign of the starting field and the path followed in tracing the hysteresis loop. The asymmetry thus observed - $Δ$H$_{SEB}$ - is found to be decreasing nonmonotonically across 5-300 K with a peak around 200 K. The $Δ$H$_{SEB}$ together with large H$_{SEB}$ could have significant ramification in tuning the exchange bias driven effects and consequent applications.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2013

A Training effect on electrical properties in nanoscale BiFeO$_3$

We report our observation of the training effect on dc electrical properties in a nanochain of BiFeO$_3$ as a result of large scale migration of defects under combined influence of electric field and Joule heating. We show that an optimum number of cycles of electric field within the range zero to $\sim$1.0 MV/cm across a temperature range 80-300 K helps in reaching the stable state via a glass-transition-like process in the defect structure. Further treatment does not give rise to any substantial modification. We conclude that such a training effect is ubiquitous in pristine nanowires or chains of oxides and needs to be addressed for applications in nanoelectronic devices.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2013

Superspin Glass Mediated Giant Spontaneous Exchange Bias in a Nanocomposite of BiFeO$_3$-Bi$_2$Fe$_4$O$_9$

We observe an enormous $\textit{spontaneous}$ exchange bias ($\sim$300-600 Oe) - measured in an unmagnetized state following zero-field cooling - in a nanocomposite of BiFeO$_3$ ($\sim$94%)-Bi$_2$Fe$_4$O$_9$ ($\sim$6%) over a temperature range 5-300 K. Depending on the path followed in tracing the hysteresis loop - positive (p) or negative (n) - as well as the maximum field applied, the exchange bias ($H_E$) varies significantly with $\mid-H_{Ep}\mid$ $>$ $\mid H_{En}\mid$. The temperature dependence of $H_E$ is nonmonotonic. It increases, initially, till $\sim$150 K and then decreases as the blocking temperature $T_B$ is approched. All these rich features appear to be originating from the spontaneous symmetry breaking and consequent onset of unidirectional anisotropy driven by "superinteraction bias coupling" between ferromagnetic core of Bi$_2$Fe$_4$O$_9$ (of average size $\sim$19 nm) and canted antiferromagnetic structure of BiFeO$_3$ (of average size $\sim$112 nm) via superspin glass moments at the shell.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2013

Electric field driven destabilization of the insulating state in nominally pure LaMnO3

We report an electric field driven destabilization of the insulating state in nominally pure LaMnO3 single crystal with a moderate field which leads to a resistive state transition below 300 K. The transition is between the insulating state in LaMnO3 and a high resistance bad metallic state that has a temperature independent resistivity. The transition occurs at a threshold field (Eth) which shows a steep enhancement on cooling. While at lower temperatures the transition is sharp and involves large change in resistance but it softens on heating and eventually absent above 280K. When the Mn4+ content is increased by Sr substitution up to x=0.1, the observed transition though observable in certain temperature range, softens considerably. The observation has been explained as bias driven percolation type transition between two coexisting phases, where the majority phase is a charge and orbitally ordered polaronic insulating phase and the minority phase is a bad metallic phase. The mobile fraction f of the bad metallic phase deduced from the experimental data follows an activated kinetics with the activation energy nearly equal to 200 meV and the prefactor fo is a strong function of the field that leads to a rapid enhancement of f on application of field leading to the resistive state transition. We suggest likely scenarios for such co-existing phases in nominally pure LaMnO3 that can lead to the bias driven percolation type transition.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2012

Magnetoelastic effects in multiferroic HoMnO$_3$

We have investigated magnetoelastic effects in multiferroic HoMnO$_3$ below the antiferromagnetic phase transition $T_N \approx 75$ K by neutron powder diffraction. The lattice parameter $a$ of the hexagonal unit cell of HoMnO$_3$ decrease in the usual way at lower temperatures and then shows abrupt contraction below $T_N$ whereas the lattice parameter $c$ increases continuously with decreasing temperature and shows an anomalous increase below $T_N$. The unit cell volume decreases continuously with decreasing temperature and undergoes abrupt contraction below $T_N$. By fitting the background thermal expansion for a nonmagnetic lattice with the Einstein-Grüneisen equation we determined the lattice strains $Δa$, $Δc$ and $ΔV$ due to the magnetoelastic effects as a function of temperature. We have also determined the temperature variation of the ordered magnetic moment of Mn ion by fitting the measured Bragg intensities of the nuclear and magnetic reflections with the known crystal and magnetic structure models.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2012

Magnetoelastic effects in multiferroic YMnO$_3$

We have investigated magnetoelastic effects in multiferroic YMnO$_3$ below the antiferromagnetic phase transition, $T_N \approx 70$ K, using neutron powder diffraction. The $a$ lattice parameter of the hexagonal unit cell of YMnO$_3$ decreases normally above $T_N$, but decreases anomalously below T$_N$, whereas the $c$ lattice parameter increases with decreasing temperature and then increases anomalously below T$_N$. The unit cell volume also undergoes an anomalous contraction below $T_N$. By fitting the background thermal expansion for a non-magnetic lattice with the Einstein-Grüneisen equation, we determined the lattice strains $Δa$, $Δc$ and $ΔV$ due to the magnetoelastic effects as a function of temperature. We have also determined the temperature variation of the ordered magnetic moment of the Mn ion by fitting the measured Bragg intensities of the nuclear and magnetic reflections with the known crystal and magnetic structure models and have established that the lattice strain due to the magnetoelastic effect in YMnO$_3$ couples with the square of the ordered magnetic moment or the square of the order parameter of the antiferromagnetic phase transition.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2011

Current-driven orbital order-disorder transition in LaMnO3

We report significant influence of electric current on the orbital order-disorder transition in LaMnO3. The transition temperature T_OO, thermal hysteresis in the resistivity (rho) versus temperature (T) plot around T_OO, and latent heat L associated with the transition decrease with the increase in current density. Eventually, at a critical current density, L reaches zero. The transition zone, on the other hand, broadens with the increase in current density. The states at ordered, disordered, and transition zone are all found to be stable within the time window from ~10^-3 to ~10^4 seconds.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2011

Multiferroic coupling in nanoscale BiFeO3

Using the results of x-ray and neutron diffraction experiments, we show that the ferroelectric polarization, in ~22 nm particles of BiFeO3, exhibits a jump by ~30% around the magnetic transition point T_N (~635 K) and a suppression by ~7% under 5T magnetic field at room temperature (<<T_N). These results confirm presence of strong multiferroic coupling even in nanoscale BiFeO3 and thus could prove to be quite useful for applications based on nanosized devices of BiFeO3.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2011

Evolution of orbital phases with particle size in nanoscale stoichiometric LaMnO3

The thermodynamically stable long-range orbital order in bulk LaMnO3 becomes metastable at nanoscale around a critical particle size d_C~20 nm. The orbital order-disorder transition switches from reversible to irreversible at d_C while the resistance in the orbital ordered state decays by 2-4% over a time scale of ~3000s. At well below d_C, of course, a stable orbital disordered phase emerges. The orthorhombic distortion of the underlying crystallographic structure (space group Pbnm) decreases systematically with the decrease in particle size and at far below d_C (e.g., at ~10 nm), the structure becomes cubic (space group Pm-3m). Using the crystallographic and electrical resistance data, a phase diagram has been constructed showing the evolution of different orbital phases as a function of particle size across ~10 nm to bulk for stoichiometric LaMnO3.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2010

Particle size dependence of magnetization and non-centrosymmetry in nanoscale BiFeO3

The saturation magnetization (M_s), antiferromagnetic transition point (T_N), and the off-center displacements of Bi and Fe ions have been measured as a function of particle size in nanoscale BiFeO3. T_N decreases down to ~550 K for particles of size ~5 nm from ~653 K in bulk while M_s rises by more than an order of magnitude. Analysis of crystallographic structure from Rietveld refinement of x-ray diffraction patterns shows significant rise in off-center displacements of Bi (del_Bi) and Fe (del_Fe) ions within a unit cell with the decrease in particle size. The net unit-cell polarization P_S too, is found to be larger in nanoscale regime.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2010

Correlation between extrinsic electroresistance and magnetoresistance in fine-grained La0.7Ca0.3MnO3

We report our observation of a correlation between the extrinsic electroresistance (EER) and magnetoresistance (EMR) via grain size in fine-grained La0.7Ca0.3MnO3. The nature of dependence of EER and EMR on grain size (~0.2-1.0 micron) indicates that for finer grains with low-resistive boundaries both of them follow similar trend whereas they differ for coarser grains with high-resistive boundaries. This could be due to a crossover in the mechanism of charge transport across the grain boundaries - from spin-depedent scattering process to spin-polarized tunneling one - as a function of grain size.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2009

Orbital order-disorder transition in doped perovskite manganites: influence of intrinsic octahedral-site distortion

The orbital order-disorder transition temperature (T_OO) versus tolerance factor (t) plot switches from monotonic to non-monotonic beyond a doping level (x) ~ 10 atom% in a family of R(1-x)A(x)MnO3 systems(R = La, Pr, Nd; A = Ca, Sr; x = 0.0-0.2). T_OO reaches maximum at a 'doping-dependent' critical tolerance factor t_C(x) (for 0.1<x<0.2)at which the orthorhombic distortion (D) also maximizes. Such an observation reflects influence of charge carriers on both 'intrinsic' octahedral-site distortion and its bias on the orbital order in doped perovskite manganites and, thus, deviation from what has been observed in undoped RMnO3, RTiO3, and RVO3 systems where maximization of T_OO and D takes place at a universal tolerance factor or R-site ion size.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2009

Frequency dependence of dielectric anomaly around Neel temperature in bilayer manganite Pr(Sr0.1Ca0.9)2Mn2O7

A novel frequency dependence of anomaly in dielectric constant versus temperature plot, around the Neel temperature T_N (~150 K), has been observed in a single crystal of bilayer manganite Pr(Sr0.1Ca0.9)2Mn2O7. The anomaly in the permittivity (epsilon'||c) occurs at a temperature T_f which moves within a temperature window (delT_f) of ~40 K around T_N for a frequency range 50 kHz-5 MHz. The capacitive component Cp of the dielectric response exhibits a clear yet broad feature around T_N which establishes the intrinsic capacitive nature of the anomaly.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2008

Ferromagnetism in transparent Mn(II)-doped indium tin oxide films prepared by sol-gel process

We observe remarkably strong room temperature ferromagnetism (~1.5 Bohr Magneton/Mn) in optically transparent Mn(II)-doped indium tin oxide (ITO) films. The nanocrystalline films with average grain size 10-22 nm and thickness 150-350 nm are prepared by sol-gel coating technique on sodalime silica glass substrate. The ferromagnetic property is, of course, weak for films deposited on pure silica glass substrate. The structural parameters of the films appear to be governing the magnetic property strongly which vary appreciably depending on the substrate. The observation of room temperature ferromagnetism in transparent conducting ITO films may find a plethora of applications in the area of magneto-optics.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2007

Dielectric anomaly at T_N in LaMnO3

We observe a distinct anomaly in dielectric permittivity (epsilon') as well as relaxation time (tao_0) versus temperature (T) pattern at the antiferromagnetic transition point (T_N) in single crystal of LaMnO3. The equivalent circuit analysis of the impedance spectra across T_N reveals clear anomaly in the capacitive component C_0 at T_N. Since no structural transition takes place across T_N, the anomaly in tao_0 and C_0 at T_N possibly signifies multiferroicity stemming from coupling between orbital and spin order in LaMnO3.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2007

Ferromagnetism in nanoscale BiFeO3

A remarkably high saturation magnetization of ~0.4mu_B/Fe along with room temperature ferromagnetic hysteresis loop has been observed in nanoscale (4-40 nm) multiferroic BiFeO_3 which in bulk form exhibits weak magnetization (~0.02mu_B/Fe) and an antiferromagnetic order. The magnetic hysteresis loops, however, exhibit exchange bias as well as vertical asymmetry which could be because of spin pinning at the boundaries between ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic domains. Interestingly, like in bulk BiFeO_3, both the calorimetric and dielectric permittivity data in nanoscale BiFeO_3 exhibit characteristic features at the magnetic transition point. These features establish formation of a true ferromagnetic-ferroelectric system with a coupling between the respective order parameters in nanoscale BiFeO_3.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2006

Electrical conductivity of cellular Si/SiC ceramic composites prepared from plant precursors

Electrical conductivity (sigma_dc) of the cellular Si/SiC ceramic composites has been measured over a temperature range 25-1073 K while the thermoelectric power (S) has been measured over 25-300 K. Remarkably, these cellular compounds developed through biomimetic route - where the ceramic system grows within a plant bio-template retaining the structural intricacies of the native templates - are found to exhibit excellent mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties quite comparable to or even better than those of the systems prepared through conventional ceramic route. The electrical conductivity measured parallel (sigma||) and perpendicular (sigma+) to the growth axes of the native plants, depicts nearly temperature-independent anisotropy (sigma+/sigma||) of the order \~2 while the thermoelectric power is nearly isotropic. The charge conduction across the entire temperature range is found to follow closely the variable range hopping (VRH) mechanism. The conductivity anisotropy appears to be driven primarily by the unique microcellular morphology of the bio-templates which can be exploited in many electrical applications.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2006

Universal scaling of latent heat of orbital order-disorder transition with average R-site ion size in perovskite RMnO3 systems

The latent heat (L) of orbital order-disorder transition in single-valent perovskite manganite series La(1-x)R(x)MnO3 (R = Pr, Nd, Gd; x = 0.0-1.0) decreases with the decrease in average R-site radius following a universal scaling law L. ^2/sigma^2 ~ exp ( ), where sigma^2 is the variance in R-site radius, and eventually reaches zero at a critical R-site radius _c ~ 1.180 Angstrom. Such a drop in L is due, possibly, to a universal pattern of evolution of finer orbital domain structure with the drop in as well as with the increase in sigma^2 irrespective of R-site ion type.

cond-mat.str-el↗