Using muon spin spectroscopy we have found that, for both Na$_x$CoO$_2$ (0.6 $leq x leq$ 0.9) and 3- and 4-layer cobaltites, a common low temperature magnetic state (which in some cases is manifest as an incommensurate spin density wave) forms in the CoO$_2$ planes. Here we summarize those results and report a dome-shaped relation between the transition temperature into the low-$T$ magnetic state and the composition $x$ for Na$_x$CoO$_2$ and/or the high-temperature asymptotic limit of thermopower in the more complex 3- and 4-layer cobaltites. This behavior is explained using the Hubbard model on two-dimensional triangular lattice in the CoO$_2$ plane.
A pressure and temperature dependent Raman study of the vibrational and spin dynamics in CuGeO3 is presented. A new low temperature, high pressure phase has been identified, and a pressure-temperature phase-diagram is proposed for CuGeO3. The pressure dependence of the effective exchange interaction, of the spin-Peierls gap, and of the spin-Peierls temperature strongly supports a model in which next nearest neighbor interactions stabilise the SP ground state. The Raman data allow for a quantitative estimate of the pressure dependence of the next nearest neighbor interactions.
High-quality single crystals of CoTiO$_3$ are grown and used to elucidate in detail structural and magnetostructural effects by means of high-resolution capacitance dilatometry studies in fields up to 15 T which are complemented by specific heat and magnetization measurements. In addition, we refine the single-crystal structure of the ilmenite ($Rbar{3}$) phase. At the antiferromagnetic ordering temperature $T_mathrm{N}$, pronounced $lambda$-shaped anomaly in the thermal expansion coefficients signals shrinking of both the $c$ and $b$ axes, indicating strong magnetoelastic coupling with uniaxial pressure along $c$ yielding six times larger effect on $T_mathrm{N}$ than the pressure applied in-plane. The hydrostatic pressure dependency derived by means of Gruneisen analysis amounts to $partial T_mathrm{N}/ partial papprox 2.7(4)$~K/GPa. The high-field magnetization studies in static and pulsed magnetic fields up to 60~T along with high-field thermal expansion measurements facilitate in constructing the complete anisotropic magnetic phase diagram of CoTiO$_3$. While the results confirm the presence of significant magnetodielectric coupling, our data show that magnetism drives the observed structural, dielectric, and magnetic changes both in the short-range ordered regime well-above $T_mathrm{N}$ as well as in the long-range magnetically ordered phase.
MoTe2 is a rare transition-metal ditelluride having two kinds of layered polytypes, hexagonal structure with trigonal prismatic Mo coordination and monoclinic structure with octahedral Mo coordination. The monoclinic distortion in the latter is caused by anisotropic metal-metal bonding. In this work, we have examined the Nb doping effect on both polytypes of MoTe2 and clarified a structural phase diagram for Mo1-xNbxTe2 containing four kinds of polytypes. A rhombohedral polytype crystallizing in polar space group has been newly identified as a high-temperature metastable phase at slightly Nb-rich composition. Considering the results of thermoelectric measurements and the first principles calculations, the Nb ion seemingly acts as a hole dopant in the rigid band scheme. On the other hand, the significant interlayer contraction upon the Nb doping, associated with the Te p-p hybridization, is confirmed especially for the monoclinic phase, which implies a shift of the p-band energy level. The origin of the metal-metal bonding in the monoclinic structure is discussed in terms of the d electron counting and the Te p-p hybridization.
Magnetism of a misfit layered cobaltite [Ca$_2$Co$_{4/3}$Cu$_{2/3}$O$_4$]$_x^{rm RS}$[CoO$_2$] ($x sim$ 0.62, RS denotes a rocksalt-type block) was investigated by a positive muon spin rotation and relaxation ($mu^+$SR) experiment. A transition to an incommensurate ({sf IC}) spin density wave ({sf SDW}) state was found below 180 K (= $T_{rm C}^{rm on}$); and a clear oscillation due to a static internal magnetic field was observed below 140 K (= $T_{rm C}$). Furthermore, an anisotropic behavior of the zero-field $mu^+$SR experiment indicated that the {sf IC-SDW} propagates in the $a$-$b$ plane, with oscillating moments directed along the c axis. These results were quite similar to those for the related compound [Ca$_2$CoO$_3$]$_{0.62}^{rm RS}$[CoO$_2$], {sl i.e.}, Ca$_3$Co$_4$O$_9$. Since the {sf IC-SDW} field in [Ca$_2$Co$_{4/3}$Cu$_{2/3}$O$_4$]$_{0.62}^{rm RS}$[CoO$_2$] was approximately same to those in pure and doped [Ca$_2$CoO$_3$]$_{0.62}^{rm RS}$[CoO$_2$], it was concluded that the {sf IC-SDW} exist in the [CoO$_2$] planes.
The competition between spin-orbit coupling, bandwidth ($W$) and electron-electron interaction ($U$) makes iridates highly susceptible to small external perturbations, which can trigger the onset of novel types of electronic and magnetic states. Here we employ {em first principles} calculations based on density functional theory and on the constrained random phase approximation to study how dimensionality and strain affect the strength of $U$ and $W$ in (SrIrO$_3$)$_m$/(SrTiO$_3$) superlattices. The result is a phase diagram explaining two different types of controllable magnetic and electronic transitions, spin-flop and insulator-to-metal, connected with the disruption of the $J_{eff}=1/2$ state which cannnot be understood within a simplified local picture.