Tuning the magnetic exchange via a control of orbital hybridization in Cr2(Te1-xWx)O6

TL;DR

This study explores how chemical doping in Cr2(Te1-xWx)O6 alters magnetic properties by tuning orbital hybridization, revealing a new method to control magnetic and electronic behaviors in materials.

Contribution

It demonstrates a novel approach to modify magnetic interactions by adjusting orbital hybridization through W doping, supported by electronic structure calculations.

Findings

Magnetic phase diagram varies with W content

Transition temperature and magnetization reach minima at x=0.7

Orbital hybridization tuning influences magnetic properties

Abstract

We report the complex magnetic phase diagram and electronic structure of Cr2(Te1-xWx)O6 systems. While compounds with different x values possess the same crystal structure, they display different magnetic structures below and above xc = 0.7, where both the transition temperature TN and sublattice magnetization (Ms) reach a minimum. Unlike many known cases where magnetic interactions are controlled either by injection of charge carriers or by structural distortion induced via chemical doping, in the present case it is achieved by tuning the orbital hybridization between Cr 3d and O 2p orbitals through W 5d states. The result is supported by ab-initio electronic structure calculations. Through this concept, we introduce a new approach to tune magnetic and electronic properties via chemical doping.