arXiv subjects

R. F. Jardim

Publications and source records attributed to R. F. Jardim.

13 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2017

Absence of superconductivity in NbB

A systematic study of the superconducting properties in a series of arc-melted Nb-B samples close to the 1:1 composition was carried out. Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) shows that all samples are both non-stoichiometric, and comprising of two crystal phases: a majority orthorhombic NbB-type phase, and traces of a minor body-centered cubic Nb-rich phase Nb$_{ss}$ with stoichiometry close to Nb$_{0.98}$B$_{0.02}$. The emergence of superconductivity near T$_c \sim$ 9.0 K was inferred from magnetization data in chunk and powder samples. However, the very small superconducting volume fractions are inconsistent with superconductivity arising from the major NbB phase. On the other hand, micrographs of selected samples clearly show that the minority Nb$_{ss}$ forms a three-dimensional network of filaments that meander around the grains of the majority phase, forming a percolation path. Here we report the superconductivity of the Nb$_{ss}$ phase, and argue that the low superconducting volume fraction of non-stoichiometric NbB and zero resistance are due to the filaments of the minority phase. The electronic contribution to the entropy of the superconducting state, yielded from an analysis using the alpha model for single-band systems, indicates that the Sommerfeld constant of the arc-melted samples is close to the values found in non-superconducting NbB. Micrograph, XRD, and bulk measurements of magnetization, electrical resistivity, and specific heat suggest that the superconducting state in the NbB samples bearing some Nb$_{ss}$ minority phase is due to the latter.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2012

Two-Dimensional Magnetic Correlations and Partial Long-Range Order in Geometrically Frustrated Sr2YRuO6

Neutron diffraction on the double perovskite Sr2YRuO6 with a quasi-face-centered cubic (FCC) lattice of Ru moments reveals planar magnetic correlations that condense into a partial long-range ordered state with coupled alternate antiferromagnetic (AFM) YRuO4 square layers coexisting with short-range correlations below T{N1}=32 K. A second transition to a fully ordered AFM state below T{N2}=24 K is observed. These observations are ascribed to the cancellation of the magnetic coupling between consecutive AFM square layers in FCC antiferromagnets, notably the simplest three-dimensional frustrated magnet model system. Inhomogeneous superconductivity in Sr2YRu_{1-x}Cu_{x}O6, reported in earlier works, may be nucleated in magnetically disordered YRu_{1-x}Cu_{x}O4 layers with strong spin fluctuations.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2011

Anelastic spectroscopy study of the metal-insulator transition of Nd(1-x)EuxNiO3

Measurements are presented of the complex dynamic Young's modulus of NdNiO3 and Nd0.65Eu0.35NiO3 through the Metal-Insulator Transition (MIT). On cooling, the modulus presents a narrow dip at the MIT followed by an abrupt stiffening of ~6%. The anomaly is reproducible between cooling and heating in Nd0:65Eu0:35NiO3 but only appears as a slow stiffening during cooling in undoped NdNiO3, conformingly with the fact that the MIT in RNiO3 changes from strongly first order to second order when the mean R size is decreased. The elastic anomaly seems not to be associated with the antiferromagnetic transition, which is distinct from the MIT in Nd0.65Eu0.35NiO3. It is concluded that the steplike stiffening is due to the disappearance or freezing of dynamic Jahn- Teller (JT) distortions through the MIT, where the JT active Ni3+ is disproportionated into alternating Ni3+d and Ni3-d. The fluctuating octahedral JT distortion necessary to justify the observed jump in the elastic modulus is estimated as ~3%, but does not have a role in determining the MIT, since the otherwise expected precursor softening is not observed.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2011

Magnetic dynamics of single domain Ni nanoparticles

The dynamic magnetic properties of Ni nanoparticles diluted in an amorphous SiO2 matrix prepared from a modified sol-gel method have been studied by the frequency f dependence of the ac magnetic susceptibility \c{hi}(T). For samples with similar average radii ~ 3-4 nm, an increase of the blocking temperature from TB ~ 20 to ~ 40 K was observed for Ni concentrations of ~ 1.5 and 5 wt.%, respectively, assigned to the effects of dipolar interactions. Both the in-phase \c{hi}'(T) and the out-of-phase \c{hi}"(T) maxima follow the predictions of the thermally activated Néel-Arrhenius model. The effective magnetic anisotropy constant Keff inferred from \c{hi}"(T) versus f data for the 1.5 wt.% Ni sample is close to the value of the magnetocrystalline anisotropy of bulk Ni, suggesting that surface effects are negligible in the present samples. In addition, the contribution from dipolar interactions to the total anisotropy energy Ea in specimens with 5 wt.% Ni was found to be comparable to the intrinsic magnetocrystalline anisotropy barrier.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2011

Increase in the magnitude of the energy barrier distribution in Ni nanoparticles due to dipolar interactions

The energy barrier distribution Eb of five samples with different concentrations x of Ni nanoparticles using scaling plots from ac magnetic susceptibility data has been determined. The scaling of the imaginary part of the susceptibility Chi"(nu, T) vs. Tln(t/tau_0) remains valid for all samples, which display Ni nanoparticles with similar shape and size. The mean value increases appreciably with increasing x, or more appropriately with increasing dipolar interactions between Ni nanoparticles. We argue that such an increase in constitutes a powerful tool for quality control in magnetic recording media technology where the dipolar interaction plays an important role.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2010

Metal-insulator transition in Nd1-xEuxNiO3 probed by specific heat and anelastic measurements

Oxides RNiO3 (R = rare-earth, R # La) exhibit a metal-insulator (MI) transition at a temperature TMI and an antiferromagnetic (AF) transition at TN. Specific heat (CP) and anelastic spectroscopy measurements were performed in samples of Nd1-xEuxNiO3, 0 <= x <= 0.35. For x = 0, a peak in CP is observed upon cooling and warming at essentially the same temperature TMI = TN ~ 195 K, although the cooling peak is much smaller. For x >= 0.25, differences between cooling and warming curves are negligible, and two well defined peaks are clearly observed: one at lower temperatures, that define TN, and the other one at TMI. An external magnetic field of 9 T had no significant effect on these results. The elastic compliance (s) and the reciprocal of the mechanical quality factor (Q^-1) of NdNiO3, measured upon warming, showed a very sharp peak at essentially the same temperature obtained from CP, and no peak is observed upon cooling. The elastic modulus hardens below TMI much more sharply upon warming, while the cooling and warming curves are reproducible above TMI. On the other hand, for the sample with x = 0.35, s and Q^-1 curves are very similar upon warming and cooling. The results presented here give credence to the proposition that the MI phase transition changes from first to second order with increasing Eu doping.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2010

Magnetic properties of Fe3O4 nanoparticles coated with oleic and dodecanoic acids

Magnetic nanoparticles (NP) of magnetite (Fe3O4) coated with oleic acid (OA) and dodecanoic acid (DA) were synthesized and investigated through Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM),magnetization M, and ac magnetic susceptibility measurements. The OA coated samples were produced with different magnetic concentrations (78, 76, and 65%) and the DA sample with 63% of Fe3O4. Images from TEM indicate that the NP have a nearly spherical geometry and mean diameter ~ 5.5 nm. Magnetization measurements, performed in zero field cooled (ZFC) and field cooled (FC) processes under different external magnetic fields H, exhibited a maximum at a given temperature TB in the ZFC curves, which depends on the NP coating (OA or DA), magnetite concentration, and H. The temperature TB decreases monotonically with increasing H and, for a given H, the increase in the magnetite concentration results in an increase of TB. The observed behavior is related to the dipolar interaction (DI) between NP which seems to be an important mechanism in all samples studied. This is supported by the results of the ac magnetic susceptibility Xac measurements, where the temperature in which X' peaks for different frequencies follows the Vogel-Fulcher model, a feature commonly found in systems with dipolar interactions. Curves of H vs. TB/TB(H=0) for samples with different coatings and magnetite concentrations collapse into a universal curve, indicating that the qualitative magnetic behavior of the samples may be described by the NP themselves, instead of the coating or the strength of the dipolar interaction. Below TB, M vs. H curves show a coercive field (HC) that increases monotonically with decreasing temperature. The saturation magnetization (MS) follows the Bloch's law and values of MS at room temperature as high as 78 emu/g were estimated, a result corresponding to ~80% of the bulk value. The overlap of M/MS vs. H/T curves for a given sample and the low HC at high temperatures suggest superparamagnetic behavior in all samples studied. The overlap of M/MS vs. H curves at constant temperature for different samples indicates that the NP magnetization behavior is preserved, independently of the coating and magnetite concentration.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2009

Role of dipolar interactions in a system of Ni nanoparticles studied by magnetic susceptibility measurements

The role of dipolar interactions among Ni nanoparticles (NP) embedded in an amorphous SiO2/C matrix with different concentrations has been studied performing ac magnetic susceptibility Chi_ac measurements. For very diluted samples, with Ni concentrations < 4 wt % Ni or very weak dipolar interactions, the data are well described by the Neel-Arrhenius law. Increasing Ni concentration to values up to 12.8 wt % Ni results in changes in the Neel-Arrhenius behavior, the dipolar interactions become important, and need to be considered to describe the magnetic response of the NPs system. We have found no evidence of a spin-glasslike behavior in our Ni NP systems even when dipolar interactions are clearly present.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2007

Magnetothermopower in Nd1-xEuxNiO3 compounds

We have measured magnetization M(T,H), electrical resistivity ro(T,H), thermal conductivity k(T,H), and thermopower S(T,H) of polycrystalline samples of Nd1-xEuxNiO3; 0 <= x <= 0.35; as a function of temperature and external magnetic field. The data indicate a metal-insulator transition (MI) in a wide range of temperature (200 < TMI < 325 K). The magnetic susceptibility X(T) data, after the subtraction of the rare-earth contribution, exhibit a Curie-Weiss like behavior at temperatures above TMI. Although a clear antiferromagnetic AF transition of the Ni sub-lattice is observed at TN <= TMI, X(T) still increases down to 5 K, suggesting a heterogeneous ground state. The thermal conductivity of the NdNiO3 compound is not affected by an external magnetic field of 90 kOe in a wide range of temperature, and its temperature dependence below 15 K is approximately quadratic, strongly suggesting the presence of disorder. S(T) is negative above TMI and varies linearly with temperature. Below TMI, S(T) does not follow the expected behavior of insulating compounds. There is a minimum close to 120 K, and S(T) changes its sign at T ~ 30 K, indicating a competition between two types of charge carriers. A pronounced peak in S(T) at TS ~ 20 K does not follow the expected phonon-drag temperature dependence either above or below TS and the peak remains unaltered under magnetic fields up to 90 kOe. However, its magnitude is enhanced by ~ 25 % with applied magnetic field, exhibiting a clear magnetothermopower effect. The combined results indicate a coexistence of ordered and disordered phases below TN and that an applied magnetic field is suitable for enhancing the thermoelectric properties close to TS.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2007

Effect of Ir substitution in the ferromagnetic superconductor RuSr2GdCu2O8

A detailed study of the effect caused by the partial substitution of Ru by Ir on the magnetic and superconducting properties of the ruthenocuprate Ru(1-x)Ir(x)Sr2GdCu2o8; 0 <= x <= 0.10; is presented. The combined experimental results of structural, electrical, and magnetic measurements indicate that Ir substitutes Ru for x <= 0.10 with no significant structural distortions. Ir-doping gradually suppresses both the magnetic and the superconducting states. However, all samples were observed to attain the zero-resistance state at temperatures >= 2 K up to the highest applied magnetic field of 18 T. The resistive upper-critical field Hc2 as a function of temperature has been determined for these polycrystalline samples. Values of Hc2(0) were found to be \~ 52 T, and weakly dependent on the Ir concentration. We have also observed that the superconducting transition width decreases and the slope of the resistive transition increases with increasing Ir doping, a feature which is much more pronounced at high applied magnetic fields. The double-peak structure observed in the derivative of the resistive curves has been related to an inhomogeneous nature of the physical grains which is enhanced due to the Ru substitution by Ir. This indicates that the Josephson-junction-array (JJA) model seems to be appropriated to describe the superconducting state in these ruthenocuprates. The low temperature rho(T) data along with the determined vortex thermal activation energy are consistent with a 2D vortex dynamics in these materials.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2006

Metal-insulator transition in Nd$_{1-x}$Eu$_{x}$NiO$_{3}$ compounds

Polycrystalline Nd$_{1-x}$Eu$_{x}$NiO$_3$ ($0 \leq x \leq 0.5$) compounds were synthesized in order to investigate the character of the metal-insulator (MI) phase transition in this series. Samples were prepared through the sol-gel route and subjected to heat treatments at $\sim$1000 $^\circ$C under oxygen pressures as high as 80 bar. X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Neutron Powder Diffraction (NPD), electrical resistivity $ρ(T)$, and Magnetization $M(T)$ measurements were performed on these compounds. The results of NPD and XRD indicated that the samples crystallize in an orthorhombic distorted perovskite structure, space group $Pbnm$. The analysis of the structural parameters revealed a sudden and small expansion of $\sim$0.2% of the unit cell volume when electronic localization occurs. This expansion was attributed to a small increase of $\sim$0.003 Å of the average Ni-O distance and a simultaneous decrease of $\sim$$- 0.5^\circ$ of the Ni-O-Ni superexchange angle. The $ρ(T)$ measurements revealed a MI transition occurring at temperatures ranging from $T_{\rm MI}\sim 193$ to 336 K for samples with $x = 0$ and 0.50, respectively. These measurements also show a large thermal hysteresis in NdNiO$_{3}$ during heating and cooling processes suggesting a first-order character of the phase transition at $T_{\rm MI}$. The width of this thermal hysteresis was found to decrease appreciably for the sample Nd$_{0.7}$Eu$_{0.3}$NiO$_{3}$. The results indicate that cation disorder associated with increasing substitution of Nd by Eu is responsible for changing the first order character of the transition in NdNiO$_{3}$.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2006

Current localization and Joule self-heating effects in Cr doped Nd0.5Ca0.5MnO3 manganites

The effects of dc excitation current on the current-voltage curves of polycrystalline samples of Nd0.5Ca0.5Mn0.96Cr0.04O3 were investigated. The experimental results show that an abrupt jump of the voltage is concomitant with a huge increase in the temperature of the sample. A simple model and estimates for Joule self-heating effects support the experimental data. Moreover, the data strongly suggest that both the current localization in the metallic paths and local Joule self-heating effects are essential ingredients to understand the current-induced phase transition in phase-separated manganites.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2005

A new method for analyzing second-order phase transitions applied to the ferromagnetic transition of a polaronic system

A new method for analyzing second-order phase transitions is presented and applied to the polaronic system La$_{0.7}$Ca$_{0.3}$MnO$_{3}$. It utilizes heat capacity and thermal expansion data simultaneously to correctly predict the critical temperature's pressure dependence. Analysis of the critical phenomena reveals second-order behavior and an unusually large heat capacity exponent.

cond-mat.str-el↗