Structural, magnetic, and critical behavior of CrTe_{1-x}Sb_{x} Alloys

TL;DR

This study explores how substituting Sb into CrTe alters its structure and magnetic critical behavior, revealing a stable NiAs-hexagonal structure and mean field-like ferromagnetic properties near room temperature.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the structural and magnetic critical properties of CrTe1-xSbx alloys with low Sb substitution levels, highlighting their mean field-like ferromagnetic behavior.

Findings

Sb substitution maintains NiAs-hexagonal structure

Critical exponents indicate mean field-like behavior

Curie temperature remains near room temperature

Abstract

We investigate the structural and critical properties of CrTe1-xSbx with 0.0 \leq x \leq 0.2. The XRD patterns revealed that Sb-substitution resulted in a pure NiAs-hexagonal structure with P63/mmc (194) space-group. Lattice refinement of the structure revealed little changes in the a-lattice parameter, along with a more pronounced reduction in the c-axis. The critical behavior in CrTe1-xSbx has been investigated using the magnetization isotherms near the ferromagnetic transition. The obtained critical exponents ( \beta, \gamma ,and \delta) revealed that all samples (with 0.0 \leq x \leq 0.2) closely follow a mean field-like behavior with ferromagnetic Curie temperature (Tc) near room temperature. The results from Widom scaling relation indicating self-consistency of the acquired values. Moreover, the magnetization isotherms near the Curie temperature follow a universal scaling behavior, giving further support for the obtained critical exponents.