Emerging spin-phonon coupling through cross-talk of two magnetic sublattices

in NATURE COMMUNICATIONS (2022), 13(1), 443-7

Typically, magnetic phenomena result from the spontaneous order of the sublattices. Here, the cross-talk of two magnetic ions gives rise to an intrinsic, yet non-spontaneous ordering and manifests as ... [more ▼]

Typically, magnetic phenomena result from the spontaneous order of the sublattices. Here, the cross-talk of two magnetic ions gives rise to an intrinsic, yet non-spontaneous ordering and manifests as emergent strong spin-phonon coupling in SmFeO3. Many material properties such as superconductivity, magnetoresistance or magnetoelectricity emerge from the non-linear interactions of spins and lattice/phonons. Hence, an in-depth understanding of spin-phonon coupling is at the heart of these properties. While most examples deal with one magnetic lattice only, the simultaneous presence of multiple magnetic orderings yield potentially unknown properties. We demonstrate a strong spin-phonon coupling in SmFeO3 that emerges from the interaction of both, iron and samarium spins. We probe this coupling as a remarkably large shift of phonon frequencies and the appearance of new phonons. The spin-phonon coupling is absent for the magnetic ordering of iron alone but emerges with the additional ordering of the samarium spins. Intriguingly, this ordering is not spontaneous but induced by the iron magnetism. Our findings show an emergent phenomenon from the non-linear interaction by multiple orders, which do not need to occur spontaneously. This allows for a conceptually different approach in the search for yet unknown properties. [less ▲]

Role of the ferroelastic strain in the optical absorption of BiVO4

in APL MATERIALS (2020), 8(8),

Bismuth vanadate (BiVO4) has recently been under focus for its potential use in photocatalysis thanks to its well-suited absorption edge in the visible light range. Here, we characterize the optical ... [more ▼]

Bismuth vanadate (BiVO4) has recently been under focus for its potential use in photocatalysis thanks to its well-suited absorption edge in the visible light range. Here, we characterize the optical absorption of a BiVO4 single crystal as a function of temperature and polarization direction by reflectance and transmittance spectroscopy. The optical bandgap is found to be very sensitive to the temperature, and to the tetragonal-to-monoclinic ferroelastic transition at 523 K. The anisotropy, as measured by the difference in the absorption edge for the light polarized parallel and perpendicular to the principal axis, is reduced from 0.2 eV in the high-temperature tetragonal phase to 0.1 eV at ambient temperature. We show that this evolution is dominantly controlled by the ferroelastic shear strain. These findings provide a route for further optimization of bismuth vanadate-based light absorbers in photocatalytic devices. [less ▲]

Direct observation of polar tweed in LaAlO3

in SCIENTIFIC REPORTS (2016), 6

Polar tweed was discovered in mechanically stressed LaAlO3. Local patches of strained material (diameter ca. 5 mu m) form interwoven patterns seen in birefringence images, Piezo-Force Microscopy (PFM) and ... [more ▼]

Polar tweed was discovered in mechanically stressed LaAlO3. Local patches of strained material (diameter ca. 5 mu m) form interwoven patterns seen in birefringence images, Piezo-Force Microscopy (PFM) and Resonant Piezoelectric Spectroscopy (RPS). PFM and RPS observations prove unequivocally that electrical polarity exists inside the tweed patterns of LaAlO3. The local piezoelectric effect varies greatly within the tweed patterns and reaches magnitudes similar to quartz. The patterns were mapped by the shift of the E-g soft-mode frequency by Raman spectroscopy. [less ▲]

Structures and Magnetism of the Rare-Earth Orthochromite Perovskite Solid Solution LaxSm1−xCrO3

in Inorganic Chemistry (2013), 52

A new mixed rare-earth orthochromite series, LaxSm1−xCrO3, prepared through single-step hydrothermal synthesis is reported. Solid solutions (x = 0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.625, 0.75, 0.875, and 1.0) were prepared by ... [more ▼]

A new mixed rare-earth orthochromite series, LaxSm1−xCrO3, prepared through single-step hydrothermal synthesis is reported. Solid solutions (x = 0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.625, 0.75, 0.875, and 1.0) were prepared by the hydrothermal treatment of amorphous mixed-metal hydroxides at 370 °C for 48 h. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) reveals the formation of highly crystalline particles with dendritic-like morphologies. Rietveld refinements against high-resolution powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) data show that the distorted perovskite structures are described by the orthorhombic space group Pnma over the full composition range. Unit cell volumes and Cr−O−Cr bond angles decrease monotonically with increasing samarium content, consistent with the presence of the smaller lanthanide in the structure. Raman spectroscopy confirms the formation of solid solutions, the degree of their structural distortion. With the aid of shell-model calculations the complex mixing of Raman modes below 250 cm−1 is clarified. Magnetometry as a function of temperature reveals the onset of low-temperature antiferromagnetic ordering of Cr3+ spins with weak ferromagnetic component at Néel temperatures (TN) that scale linearly with unit cell volume and structural distortion. Coupling effects between Cr3+ and Sm3+ ions are examined with enhanced susceptibilities below TN due to polarization of Sm3+ moments. At low temperatures the Cr3+ sublattice is shown to undergo a second-order spin reorientation observed as a rapid decrease of susceptibility. [less ▲]