Interplay of lattice-spin-orbital coupling and Jahn-Teller effect in noncollinear spinel Ti x Mn1-x (Fe y Co1-y )2O4 : a neutron diffraction study

• Local magnetostructural changes and dynamical spin fluctuations in doubly diluted spinel TixMn1-x(FeyCo1-y)(2)O-4 has been reported by means of neutron diffraction and magnetization studies. Two distinct sets of compositions (i) x(Ti) = 0.20 and y(Fe) = 0.18; (ii) x(Ti) = 0.40 and y(Fe) = 0.435 have been considered for this study. The first compound of equivalent stoichiometry Ti0.20Mn0.80Fe0.36Co1.64O4 exhibits enhanced tetragonal distortion across the ferrimagnetic transition temperature T-C = 258 K in comparison to the end compound MnCo2O4 (T-C similar to 180 K) with a characteristic ratio c(t)/root 2a(t) of 0.99795(8) demonstrating robust lattice-spin-orbital coupling. However, in the second case Ti0.40Mn0.60Fe0.87Co1.13O4 with higher B-site compositions, the presence of Jahn-Teller ions with distinct behavior appears to counterbalance the strong tetragonal distortion thereby ceasing the lattice-spin-orbital coupling. Both the investigated systems show the coexistence of noncollinear antiferromagnetic and ferrimagnetic components in cubic and tetragonal settings. On the other hand, the dynamical ac-susceptibility, chi(ac)(T) reveals a cluster spin-glass state with Gabay-Toulouse (GT) like mixed phases behaviour below T-C. Such dispersive behaviour appears to be sensitive to the level of octahedral substitution. Further, the field dependence of chi(ac)(T) follows the weak anisotropic GT-line behaviour with crossover exponent Phi lies in the range 1.38-1.52 on the H-T plane which is in contrast to the B-site Ti substituted MnCo2O4 spinel that appears to follow irreversible non-mean-field AT-line behaviour (Phi similar to 3 + delta). Finally, the Arrott plots analysis indicates the presence of a pseudo first-order like transition (T < 20 K) which is in consonance with and zero crossover of the magnetic entropy change within the frozen spin-glass regime.

Ämnesord

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Fysik -- Den kondenserade materiens fysik (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Physical Sciences -- Condensed Matter Physics (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Jahn-Teller effect

neutron diffraction

noncollinear antiferromagnetism

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