Structural and magnetic effects of Cd 1-x In x Cr 2 Se 4

Abstract

Polycrystalline CdCr 2 Se 4 spinels with non-magnetic indium substitution were investigated with an aim to study the influence of non-magnetic substitution at the Cd site on its structural and magnetic properties. We carried out powder XRD and magnetic measurements on three compositions: Cd 1-x In x Cr 2 Se 4 (x=0, 0.05, 0.1). The XRD patterns were analyzed by carrying out Rietveld analysis and structural parameters were estimated. Phase purity of the compounds using reitveld refinement technique where confirming the indium distribution at tetrahedral site of the cubic close-packed sublattice formed by the selenium ions. The chemical compositions of these compounds were determined by energy dispersive x-ray analysis. Compared to parent compound, CdCr 2 Se 4 , the ferromagnetic Curie temperature T C was found to decrease from 130K to 123K and 114K as x varied from 0 to 0.05 and 0.1 respectively, whereas the saturation magnetization increases in Cd 0.95 In 0.05 Cr 2 Se 4 and again decreases in Cd 0.9 In 0.1 Cr 2 Se 4 . © 2015 AIP Publishing LLC.