arXiv subjects

Z. Y. Zhao

Publications and source records attributed to Z. Y. Zhao.

53 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2013

Growth of (CH$_3$)$_2$NH$_2$CuCl$_3$ single crystals using evaporation method with different temperatures and solvents

The bulk single crystals of of low-dimensional magnet (CH$_3$)$_2$NH$_2$CuCl$_3$ (DMACuCl$_3$ or MCCL) are grown by a slow evaporation method with different kinds of solvents, different degrees of super-saturation of solution and different temperatures of solution, respectively. Among three kinds of solvent, methanol, alcohol and water, alcohol is found to be the best one for growing MCCL crystals because of its structural similarity to the raw materials and suitable evaporation rate. The best growth temperature is in the vicinity of 35 $^{\circ}$C. The problem of the crystals deliquescing in air has been solved through recrystallization process. The crystals are characterized by means of x-ray diffraction, specific heat and magnetic susceptibility.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2013

Crystal growth and characterization of Haldane chain compound Ni(C$_3$H$_{10}$N$_2$)$_2$NO$_2$ClO$_4$

The bulk single crystals of $S = 1$ chain compound Ni(C$_3$H$_{10}$N$_2$)$_2$NO$_2$ClO$_4$ are grown by using a slow evaporation method at a constant temperature and a slow cooling method. It is found that the optimum condition of growing large crystals is via slow evaporation at 25 $^\circ$C using 0.015 mol Ni(ClO$_4$)$_2$$\cdot$6H$_2$O, 0.015 mol NaNO$_2$, and 0.03 mol 1,3-propanediamine liquid dissolved into 30 ml aqueous solvent. High-quality crystals with size up to $18 \times 7.5 \times 5$ mm$^3$ are obtained. The single crystals are characterized by measurements of x-ray diffraction, magnetic susceptibility, specific heat and thermal conductivity. The susceptibilities along three crystallographic axes are found to exhibit broad peaks at $\sim 55$ K, and then decrease abruptly to zero at lower temperatures, which is characteristic of a Haldane chain system. The specific heat and the thermal conductivity along the $c$ axis can be attributed to the simple phononic contribution and are analyzed using the Debye approximation.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2013

Single crystal growth of the pyrochlores $R_2$Ti$_2$O$_7$ ($R$ = rare earth) by the optical floating-zone method

We report a systematic study on the crystal growth of the rare-earth titanates $R_2$Ti$_2$O$_7$ ($R$ = Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Y, Er, Yb and Lu) and Y-doped Tb$_{2-x}$Y$_x$Ti$_2$O$_7$ ($x$ = 0.2 and 1) using an optical floating-zone method. High-quality single crystals were successfully obtained and the growth conditions were carefully optimized. The oxygen pressure was found to be the most important parameter and the appropriate ones are 0.1--0.4 MPa, depending on the radius of rare-earth ions. The growth rate is another parameter and was found to be 2.5--4 mm/h for different rare-earth ions. X-ray diffraction data demonstrated the good crystallinity of these crystals. The basic physical properties of these crystals were characterized by the magnetic susceptibility and specific heat measurements.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2013

Single crystal growth of the hexagonal manganites $R$MnO$_3$ ($R$ = rare earth) by the optical floating-zone method

We report a study on the crystal growth of the hexagonal manganites $R$MnO$_3$ ($R$ = Y, Lu, Ho, Er, and Tm) by using an optical floating-zone method. It was found that high-quality single crystals of $R$ = Y, Lu, and Ho could be easily grown with essentially the same conditions as those reported in literature, that is, with an atmosphere of normal pressure Ar and oxygen mixture and a growth rate of 2--4 mm/h. However, these conditions were not feasible for growing good crystals of $R$ = Er and Tm. The chemical analysis indicated that it was due to an off-stoichiometric phenomenon in the formed single crystals. We used an effective and simple way to resolve this problem by adjusting the nominal compositions of the polycrystal feed rods to be 1--$2\%$ rare-earth excess. The structures and physical properties were characterized by X-ray diffraction, magnetic susceptibility, specific heat, resistivity, and dielectric constant measurements.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2013

Low-temperature thermal conductivity of antiferromagnetic S = 1/2 chain material CuCl_2$\cdot$2((CH_3)_2SO)

We study the heat transport of S = 1/2 chain compound CuCl_2$\cdot$2((CH_3)_2SO) along the b axis (vertical to the chain direction) at very low temperatures. The zero-field thermal conductivity (κ) shows a distinct kink at about 0.9 K, which is related to the long-range antiferromagnetic (AF) transition. With applying magnetic field along the c axis, κ(H) curves also show distinct changes at the phase boundaries between the AF and the high-field disordered states. These results indicate a strong spin-phonon interaction and the magnetic excitations play a role in the b-axis heat transport as phonon scatterers.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2013

Experimental observation of ferrielectricity in multiferroic DyMn2O5: revisiting the electric polarization

The electric polarization and its magnetic origins in multiferroic RMn2O5, where R is rare-earth ion, are still issues under debate. In this work, the temperature-dependent electric polarization of DyMn2O5, the most attractive member of this RMn2O5 family, is investigated using the pyroelectric current method upon varying endpoint temperature of the electric cooling, plus the positive-up-negative-down (PUND) technique. It is revealed that DyMn2O5 at low temperature does exhibit the unusual ferrielectricity rather than ferroelectricity, characterized by two interactive and anti-parallel ferroelectric sublattices which show different temperature-dependences. The two ferroelectric sublattices are believed to be generated from the symmetric exchange-striction mechanisms associated with the Mn-Mn spin interactions and Dy-Mn spin interactions, respectively. The path-dependent electric polarization reflects the first-order magnetic transitions in the low temperature regime. The magnetoelectric effect is mainly attributed to the Dy spin order which is sensitive to magnetic field. The present experiments may be helpful for clarifying the puzzling issues on the multiferroicity in DyMn2O5 and probably other RMn2O5 multiferroics.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2013

Magnetically originated phonon-glass-like behavior in Tb_2Ti_2O_7 single crystal

We report a study on the thermal conductivity (κ) of Tb_2Ti_2O_7 single crystals at low temperatures. It is found that in zero field this material has an extremely low phonon thermal conductivity in a broad temperature range. The mean free path of phonons is even smaller than that of amorphous materials and is 3--4 orders of magnitude smaller than the sample size at 0.3 K. The strong spin fluctuation of the spin-liquid state is discussed to be the reason of the strong phonon scattering. The magnetic-field dependence of κand comparison with Y_2Ti_2O_7 and TbYTi_2O_7 confirm the magnetic origin of this phonon-glass-like behavior.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2013

An irreversible magnetic-field dependence of low-temperature heat transport of spin-ice compound Dy_2Ti_2O_7 in a [111] field

We study the low-temperature thermal conductivity (κ) of Dy_2Ti_2O_7 along and perpendicular to the (111) plane and under the magnetic field along the [111] direction. Besides the step-like decreases of κat the field-induced transitions from the spin-ice state to the kagomé-ice state and then to the polarized state, an abnormal phenomenon is that the κ(H) isotherms show a clear irreversibility at very low temperatures upon sweeping magnetic field up and down. This phenomenon surprisingly has no correspondence with the well-known magnetization hysteresis. Possible origins for this irreversibility are discussed; in particular, a pinning effect of magnetic monopoles in spin ice compound by the weak disorders is proposed.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2012

Large magnetic heat transport in a Haldane chain material Ni(C$_3H_{10}N_2)_2NO_2ClO_4

We report a study on the heat transport of an S = 1 Haldane chain compound Ni(C_3H_{10}N_2)_2NO_2ClO_4 at low temperatures and in magnetic fields. The zero-field thermal conductivities show a remarkable anisotropy for the heat current along the spin-chain direction (κ_b) and the vertical direction (κ_c), implying a magnetic contribution to the heat transport along the spin-chain direction. The magnetic-field-induced change of the spin spectrum has obviously opposite impacts on κ_b and κ_c. In particular, κ_b(H) and κ_c(H) curves show peak-like increases and dip-like decreases, respectively, at \sim 9 T, which is the critical field that minimizes the spin gap. These results indicate a large magnetic thermal transport in this material.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2012

Low-temperature heat transport and magnetic-structure transition of the hexagonal TmMnO_3 single crystals

We study the low-temperature heat transport, as well as the magnetization and the specific heat, of TmMnO_3 single crystals to probe the transitions of magnetic structure induced by magnetic field. It is found that the low-T thermal conductivity (κ) shows strong magnetic-field dependence and the overall behaviors can be understood in the scenario of magnetic scattering on phonons. In addition, a strong "dip"-like feature shows up in κ(H) isotherms at 3.5--4 T for H \parallel c, which is related to a known spin re-orientation of Mn^{3+} moments. The absence of this phenomenon for H \parallel a indicates that the magnetic-structure transition of TmMnO_3 cannot be driven by the in-plane field. In comparison, the magnetothermal conductivity of TmMnO_3 is much larger than that of YMnO_3 but smaller than that of HoMnO_3, indicating that the magnetisms of rare-earth ions are playing the key role in the spin-phonon coupling of the hexagonal manganites.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2012

Paramagnetic ground state with field-induced partial order in Nd_3Ga_5SiO_{14} probed by low-temperature heat transport

We study the low-temperature heat transport of Nd_3Ga_5SiO_{14}, which is a spin-liquid candidate, to probe the nature of ground state and the effect of magnetic field on the magnetic properties. The thermal conductivity (κ) shows a purely phononic transport in zero field. The external magnetic field along the c axis induces a dip-like behavior of κ(H), which can be attributed to a simple paramagnetic scattering on phonons. However, the magnetic field along the ab plane induces another step-like decrease of κ. This kind of κ(H) behavior is discussed to be related to a field-induced partial order, which yields low-energy magnetic excitations that significantly scatter phonons. These results point to a paramagnetic ground state that partial magnetic order can be induced by magnetic field along the ab plane, which is also signified by the low-T specific heat data.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2012

Heat transport of quasi-one-dimensional Ising-like antiferromagnet BaCo_2V_2O_8 in the longitudinal and transverse fields

The very-low-temperature thermal conductivity (κ) is studied for BaCo_2V_2O_8, a quasi-one-dimensional Ising-like antiferromagnet exhibiting an unusual magnetic-field-induced order-to-disorder transition. The nearly isotropic transport in the longitudinal field indicates that the magnetic excitations scatter phonons rather than conduct heat. The field dependence of κshows a sudden drop at \sim 4 T, where the system unndergoes the transition from the Néel order to the incommensurate state. Another dip at lower field of \sim 3 T indicates an unknown magnetic transition, which is likely due to the spin-flop transition. Moreover, the κ(H) in the transverse field shows a very deep valley-like feature, which moves slightly to higher field and becomes sharper upon lowering the temperature. This indicates a magnetic transition induced by the transverse field, which however is not predicted by the present theories for this low-dimensional spin system.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2011

Heat transport of the quasi-one-dimensional alternating spin chain material (CH_{3})_{2}NH_{2}CuCl_{3}

We report a study of the low-temperature heat transport in the quasi-one-dimensional S = 1/2 alternating antiferromagnetic-ferromagnetic chain compound (CH_{3})_{2}NH_{2}CuCl_{3}. Both the temperature and magnetic-field dependencies of thermal conductivity are very complicated, pointing to the important role of spin excitations. It is found that magnetic excitations act mainly as the phonon scatterers in a broad temperature region from 0.3 to 30 K. In magnetic fields, the thermal conductivity show drastic changes, particularly at the field-induced transitions from the low-field Néel state to the spin-gapped state, the field-induced magnetic ordered state, and the spin polarized state. In high fields, the phonon conductivity is significantly enhanced because of the weakening of spin fluctuations.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2011

Low-temperature heat transport of the layered spin-dimer compound Ba_3Mn_2O_8

We report the study on the low-temperature heat transport of Ba_3Mn_2O_8 single crystal, a layered spin-dimer compound exhibiting the magnetic-field-induced magnetic order or the magnon Bose-Einstein condensation. The thermal conductivities (κ) along both the ab plane and the c axis show nearly isotropic dependence on magnetic field, that is, κis strongly suppressed with increasing field, particularly at the critical fields of magnetic phase transitions. These results indicate that the magnetic excitations play a role of scattering phonons and the scattering effect is enhanced when the magnetic field closes the gap in the spin spectrum. In addition, the magnons in the BEC state of this materials do not show notable ability of carrying heat.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2011

Low-temperature heat transport of Nd_2CuO_4: Roles of Nd magnons and spin-structure transitions

We report the magnetic-field dependence of thermal conductivity (κ) of an insulating cuprate Nd_2CuO_4 at very low temperatures down to 0.3 K. It is found that apart from the paramagnetic moments scattering on phonons, the Nd^{3+} magnons can act as either heat carriers or phonon scatterers, which strongly depends on the long-range antiferromagnetic transition and the field-induced transitions of spin structure. In particular, the Nd^{3+} magnons can effectively transport heat in the spin-flopped state of the Nd^{3+} sublattice. However, both the magnon transport and the magnetic scattering are quenched at very high fields. The spin re-orientations under the in-plane field can be conjectured from the detailed field dependence of κ.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2010

Magnetic phase transitions and magnetoelectric coupling of GdFeO_3 single crystals probed by low-temperature heat transport

The low-temperature thermal conductivity (κ) of GdFeO_3 single crystals is found to be strongly dependent on magnetic field. The low-field κ(H) curves show two "dips" for H \parallel a and only one "dip" for H \parallel c, with the characteristic fields having good correspondence with the spin-flop and the spin-polarization transitions. A remarkable phenomenon is that the subKelvin thermal conductivity shows hysteretic behaviors on the history of applying magnetic field, that is, the κ(H) isotherms measured with field increasing are larger than those with field decreasing. Intriguingly, the broad region of magnetic field (\sim 0--3 T) showing the irreversibility of heat transport coincides with that presenting the ferroelectricity. It is discussed that the irreversible κ(H) behaviors are due to the phonon scattering by ferroelectric domain walls. This result shows an experimental feature that points to the capability of controlling the ferroelectric domain structures by magnetic field in multiferroic materials.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2010

Large magnetothermal conductivity of HoMnO_3 single crystals and its relation to the magnetic-field induced transitions of magnetic structure

We study the low-temperature heat transport of HoMnO_3 single crystals to probe the magnetic structures and their transitions induced by magnetic field. It is found that the low-T thermal conductivity (κ) shows very strong magnetic-field dependence, with the strongest suppression of nearly 90% and the biggest increase of 20 times of κcompared to its zero-field value. In particular, some ``dip"-like features show up in κ(H) isotherms for field along both the ab plane and the c axis. These behaviors are found to shed new light on the complex H-T phase diagram and the field-induced re-orientations of Mn^{3+} and Ho^{3+} spin structures. The results also demonstrate a significant spin-phonon coupling in this multiferroic compound.

cond-mat.str-el↗