Novel Magnetic and Thermodynamic Properties of Thiospinel Compound CuCrZrS$_{4}$

TL;DR

This study investigates the magnetic and thermodynamic properties of the thiospinel compound CuCrZrS$_{4}$, revealing ferromagnetic behavior below 58 K and complex magnetic irreversibilities without specific heat anomalies.

Contribution

First detailed magnetic and thermodynamic measurements of CuCrZrS$_{4}$, uncovering its ferromagnetic transition and unusual irreversibility features.

Findings

Ferromagnetic behavior below 58 K with small spontaneous magnetization.

Irreversibility in magnetic susceptibility below 6 K.

No specific heat anomaly at the ferromagnetic transition.

Abstract

We have carried out dc magnetic susceptibility, magnetization and specific heat measurements on thiospinel CuCrZrS$_{4}$. Below $T_{\rm C}^{*} =$ 58 K, dc magnetic susceptibility and magnetization data show ferromagnetic behavior with a small spontaneous magnetization 0.27 $\mu_{\rm B}/$f. u.. In dc magnetic susceptibility, large and weak irreversibilities are observed below $T_{\rm f} =$ 6 K and in the range $T_{\rm f}< T < T_{\rm C}^{*}$ respectively. We found that there is no anomaly as a peak or step in the specific heat at $T_{\rm C}^{*}$.