The perovskite SrVO$_3$ is of interest for a variety of applications due to its simple metallic character and stability in reducing environments. Here we report the preparation of single-crystal SrVO$_3$ using the laser floating zone technique. Laue
diffraction implies single domains ca. 30 mm in length. The stoichiometry of optimized crystals was found to be Sr$_{0.985}$VO$_{2.91}$ using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry and neutron powder diffraction analysis, with compositions adjustable depending on the crystal pulling rate. Heat capacity measurements from 2 to 300 K show variations with composition, attributable to a combination of impurity scattering and changes in phonon dynamics.Our results demonstrate the utility of the laser floating zone technique in preparing a range of materials, and our advances with SrVO$_3$ may help lead to applications including catalysis, transparent conducting oxides, thermionic emitters, and other electronic devices.
Recent work analyzing the impact of non-symmorphic symmetries on electronic states has given rise to the discovery of multiple types of topological matter. Here we report the single-crystal synthesis and magnetic properties of EuGa2Sb2, an Eu-based a
ntiferromagnet structurally consisting of pseudo-1D chains of Eu ions related by a non-symmorphic glide plane. We find the onset of antiferromagnetic order at TN = 8 K. Above TN the magnetic susceptibility is isotropic. Curie-Weiss analysis suggests competing ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic interactions, with peff = 8.1 muB as expected for 4f7 J = S = 7/2 Eu^2+ ions. Below TN and at low applied magnetic fields, an anisotropy develops linearly, reaching chi perpendicular over chi parallel =6 at T = 2 K. There is concomitant metamagnetic behavior along with chi parallel, with a magnetic field of mu0 H=0.5 T sufficient to suppress the anisotropy. Independent of crystal orientation, there is a continuous evolution to a field polarized paramagnetic state with M=7 muB/Eu^2+ cation at mu0 H=2 T as T approaches 0 K. Specific heat measurements show a recovered magnetic entropy of dSmag=16.4 J/mol.K from T near 0 K to T = TN, close to the expected value of Rln(8) for an S = 7/2 ion, indicating negligible low dimensional spin fluctuations above TN. We find no evidence of unusual behaviors arising either from the dimensionality or the presence of the non-symmorphic symmetries.
The kagome lattice is a fruitful source of novel physical states of matter, including the quantum spin liquid and Dirac fermions. Here we report a structural, thermodynamic, and transport study of the two-dimensional kagome metal-organic frameworks N
i_3(HIB)v2 and Cu_3(HIB)_2 (HIB = hexaiminobenzene). Magnetization measurements yield Curie constants of 1.12 and 0.352 emu K mol f.u.-1 Oe-1 respectively, close to the values expected for ideal S=1 and S=1/2 moments. Weiss temperatures of -20.3 K and -6.52 K, respectively, indicate moderate to weak magnetic interactions. Electrical transport measurements reveal that both materials are semiconducting, with gaps of Eg = 22.2 and 103 meV, respectively. Specific heat measurements reveal a large T-linear contribution of {gamma} = 148(4) mJ mol-f.u.-1 K-2 in Ni_3(HIB)_2 with only a gradual upturn below T ~ 5 K and no evidence of a phase transition to an ordered state down to T = 0.1 K. Cu_3(HIB)_2 also lacks evidence of a phase transition above T = 0.1 K, with a substantial, field-dependent, magnetic contribution below T ~ 5 K. Despite being superficially in agreement with expectations of magnetic frustration and spin liquid physics, we are able to explain these observations as arising due to known stacking disorder in these materials. Our results further state the art of kagome lattice physics, especially in the rarely explored regime of semiconducting but not metallic behavior.
