The ferrites are a wide class of ferrimagnetic materials with great technological importance and are studied extensively for many decades. Their remarkable magnetic characteristics make it an element often used in induction transformers by his high magnetic permeability, high values of saturation magnetization and low coercivity, resulting in smaller losses in their hysteresis loops. In this work were characterized pure nickel ferrite (NiFe2O4), a soft magnetic material where the magnetic properties depend on the nature of the ions, their charges and their distribution among the tetrahedral and octahedral sites. Heat treatment and sintering time were emphasized. In order to improve one of the most important parameters for such an application, the saturation magnetization, new samples were doped with zinc at various concentrations (Ni1-xZnxFe2O4). Two new series were prepared starting from the higher value of the previous series (Ni0,6Zn0,4Fe2O4) with two new doping, indium and gadolinium. Finally, the values of saturation magnetization and initial permeability could be compared with samples of commercial cores, showing the potential of the compound to be used as the core of magnetic induction. / As ferritas formam uma ampla classe de materiais ferrimagnéticos com grande importância tecnológica e têm sido estudadas exaustivamente ao longo de décadas. Suas notáveis características magnéticas as tornam um elemento frequentemente utilizado em transformadores de indução por sua alta permeabilidade magnética, altos valores de magnetização de saturação e baixa coercividade, resultando em perdas menores observadas em seus ciclos de histerese. Neste trabalho foram caracterizadas ferritas de níquel pura (NiFe2O4), um material magnético mole onde as propriedades magnéticas dependem da natureza dos íons, suas cargas e sua distribuição entre os sítios tetraédricos e octaédricos. Nessa fase o tratamento térmico e o tempo de sinterização tiveram ênfase. A fim de melhorar um dos parâmetros mais importantes para tal aplicação, a magnetização de saturação, foram feitas novas amostras dopadas com zinco em várias concentrações (Ni1-xZnxFe2O4). Duas novas séries foram preparadas partindo-se do maior valor da série anterior (Ni0,6Zn0,4Fe2O4) com dois novos dopantes, o índio e o gadolínio. Finalmente, os valores de magnetização de saturação e permeabilidade inicial puderam ser comparados com amostras de núcleos comerciais, evidenciando a potencialidade do composto em ser utilizado como núcleo de indução magnética.

Submitted by Erika Demachki (erikademachki@gmail.com) on 2015-05-22T21:34:47Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Leandro Tolentino Coutrim - 2015.pdf: 2861900 bytes, checksum: 25e74c53b1811b169e93359d4ec98858 (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Erika Demachki (erikademachki@gmail.com) on 2015-05-22T21:36:09Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Leandro Tolentino Coutrim - 2015.pdf: 2861900 bytes, checksum: 25e74c53b1811b169e93359d4ec98858 (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-05-22T21:36:09Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Leandro Tolentino Coutrim - 2015.pdf: 2861900 bytes, checksum: 25e74c53b1811b169e93359d4ec98858 (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-02-27 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / In this work we describe the synthesis of the novel series La2−xCaxCoIrO6 and its structural, electronic and magnetic characterization. The main objective of this project is to investigate the magnetic evolution of the system when modified due to the chemical substitution of Ca at La site, which can induce changes in the magnetic interactions. The policristaline samples were synthesized by Solid State Reaction process, and studied combining global characterization techniques as powder x-ray diffraction, temperature dependence of magnetic susceptibility and magnetization as a function of applied magnetic field. All compounds crystallize in monoclinic structure, with space group P21/n. Magnetic susceptibility results indicate that the superexchange antiferromagnetic interaction between Co2+ and Ir4+ in La2CoIrO6 lead to ferrimagnetic behavior due to the different magnetic moment of the transition metal ions. For the Ca2+ doped at La3+ site compounds, a magnetic evolution is observed with doping, induced by Co and Ir valence changes. As expected, this system presents a strong correlation between its structural, electronic and magnetic properties, in a way that combining the different results of each compound we can explain its behavior and understand the big picture of this system. / Neste trabalho descrevemos a síntese e a caracterização estrutural, eletrônica e magnética dos compostos policristalinos da série inédita La2−xCaxCoIrO6. O principal objetivo deste projeto foi investigar a evolução da magnetização do sistema quando os materiais são modificados a partir da substituição química do Ca no sítio do La, o que pode induzir mudanças na natureza das interações magnéticas. As amostras policristalinas foram sintetizadas pela técnica de Reação de Estado Sólido convencional, e estudadas combinando-se técnicas de caracterização globais como difração de raios X de pó, magnetização em função da temperatura e em função do campo magnético aplicado, e também calor específico em função da temperatura. Todos os compostos da série cristalizam-se em estrutura monoclínica, com grupo espacial P21/n. As medidas de susceptibilidade magnética indicaram que a interação de supertroca antiferromagnética entre os metais de transição Co2+ e Ir4+ leva o composto La2CoIrO6 a apresentar comportamento ferrimagnético devido aos diferentes momentos magnéticos apresentados pelos dois íons, com TC em torno de 100K. Para os compostos dopados com Ca2+ no sítio do La3+, observou-se mudanças nas propriedades magnéticas, induzidas pelas alterações nas valências dos íons de Co e Ir. Como esperado, este sistema apresenta uma forte correlação entre as suas propriedades estruturais, eletrônicas e magnéticas, de modo que a partir da interpretação conjunta dos dados acerca da estrutura e da magnetização, podemos entender o comportamento de cada composto da série.

We report an influence of disorder on structural and magnetic properties of ZnFe2O4 thin films grown at temperatures ranging from 400°C to 600°C by pulsed laser deposition in O2 atmosphere on SrTiO3 (100) substrates evidenced by properties of electronic transitions observed in the dielectric function. Inversion of the normal spinel structure was found to be one of the main mechanisms responsible for the increase in the magnetic response for the lowest growth temperature. The enhanced feature in the dielectric function located at ~3.5 eV, related to the transition involving tetrahedrally coordinated Fe3+ cations, corresponds to the dominating magnetic coupling between the octahedral and tetrahedral lattice sites, responsible for the overall ferrimagnetic behaviour of the film grown at the lowest temperature.

Ce travail traite de l’étude des propriétés structurales et magnétiques de Co2MnO4, une spinelle à symétrie cubique inversée et de groupe spatial Fd3m. Co2MnO4 est un composé multiferroïque dont les propriétés électriques et magnétiques sont dues à la présence des éléments Co et Mn, à valence mixte, distribués sur les sites tétraédriques et octaédriques de la structure AB2O4. La présence des états d’oxydation du Co et du Mn, Co2+/Co3+ et Mn2+/Mn3+/Mn4+, est en étroite relation avec les conditions de synthèse et traitements thermiques. La substitution partielle des cations par un élément non-magnétique, le Bi, dans la série BixCo2-xMnO4 (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.3) permet également de modifier les propriétés physiques de la spinelle. Les composés ont été synthétisés par une variante de la méthode de précurseurs polymériques, MPPM, et calcinés à 1100 °C pendant 24 h. La diffraction des rayons-X (DRX), associée à l’affinement structural par la méthode Rietveld, ont montré pour ces matériaux cristallisés, une même structure cristallographique dont les paramètres de maille augmentent avec la quantité de Bi. Les observations par microscopie électronique à balayage (MEB) ont permis d’observer une variation de la forme et de la taille des grains, cette dernière variant entre 1 et 10 µm. L’insertion du bismuth atteint une limite de solubilité due à la différence notable entre les rayons ioniques du Co (0,65Å) et du Bi (1,17Å), conduisant alors à la formation d’une phase secondaire riche en Bi. Afin d’éviter la formation des phases secondaires, deux stratégies de synthèse ont été mises en place : l’une, substituer le Bi par du Co dans le système CoxBi2‑xMnO4 (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 1.7) et l’autre, utiliser une méthode originale de synthèse, la mécanoactivation MS, pour la série CoxBi2‑xMnO4 (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 1.7). Le comportement ferrimagnétique du composé initial non-substitué est maintenu après substitution partielle du Co par le Bi, avec une irréversibilité marquée entre les courbes ZFC et FC et une transition ferromagnétique très bien définie à TC. Plusieurs paramètres magnétiques tels que TC, Tmax, MFC (extrapolation de la courbe FC à T=0), température de Curie-Weiss ΘCW et moment effectif eff, sont modifiés d’une façon significative en fonction du contenu en Bi et confirment le phénomène de saturation dû à la non-solubilité du bismuth dans la structure cristalline cubique. A partir des données structurales et magnétiques, une équation d’équilibre de charges du type (Co2+)[Co2+x(Bi3+,CoIII)1-xMn3+1-xMn4+x]O4 est proposée, où l’ion Co2+, responsable des interactions antiferromagnétiques, se situe en position tétraédrique « (..) » et tous les autres cations, responsables des interactions ferromagnétiques, en positions octaédriques « [..] ». Les cations CoIII, de configuration bas-spin (S = 0) et non-magnétique, sont substitués par le Bi, également non-magnétique, ce qui résulte en un moment effectif μeff de 8.2µB, presque invariant avec la substitution du Co par le Bi. / Structural and magnetic properties of Co2MnO4, an inverse spinel structure with spatial group Fd3m and cubic symmetry, were investigated by X-Ray Diffraction (DRX) and using a SQUID magnetometer. Co2MnO4 is a multiferroic compound presenting electrical and magnetic properties due to the presence of the Co and Mn elements, which are distributed on tetrahedral and octahedral sites of the AB2O4 structure. Valence fluctuations of Co and Mn (Co2+/Co3+ and Mn2+/Mn3+/Mn4+) can easily occur and depend on the synthesis procedures and thermal processes, which can change the oxidation states of the metallic cations. In this work, samples of BixCo2-xMnO4 (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.3) were synthesized, partially replacing Co by Bi, a non magnetic element. A soft chemical route, the modified polymeric precursors method (MPPM) was used. All samples were heat-treated in similar conditions, under a temperature of 1100 ºC (24h). DRX results, associated with Rietveld refinements, showed crystalline materials with similar crystallographic data. The cell parameter of the cubic structure increased with the Bi content. SEM images showed that Bi presence altered the grains sizes (~1 - 10 µm). A spurious phase, rich in Bi, was formed due to both the solubility limit of Bi and the ionic radii of Co (0,65Å) and Bi (1,17Å). In order to solve these questions, synthesis of a new solid solution, the CoxBi2-xMnO4 (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 1.7), by the MPPM route was attempted. In parallel, a novel elaboration method, the mechanochemical route (MS), was used to synthesize the BixCo2-xMnO4 (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.3) series. The magnetic results, MxT (Zero‑Field–Cooled / Field–Cooled) cycles, 1/χ-versus-T curves and MxH hysteresis loops, revealed important information about the magnetic nature and oxidation states of the Co and Mn cations. The ferrimagnetic behavior of Co2MnO4 was preserved, with the ZFC/FC curves exhibiting well-defined magnetic transitions and strong irreversibility below TC. Several magnetic parameters, such as TC, Tmax, MFC (extrapolation of the FC curve to T=0), the coercive field HC and MS (saturation magnetization to H= 50 kOe) changed significantly with the Bi content. According to the structural and magnetic results, a charge balance is proposed, (Co2+)[Co2+x(Bi3+,CoIII)1-xMn3+1-xMn4+x]O4, where Co2+ occupies the tetrahedral positions “(  )” and is responsible of the antiferromagnetic interactions, all others cations occupying the octahedral sites “[  ]” and are responsible of ferromagnetism. The CoIII cations at the octahedral sites are on a low-spin non-magnetic configuration (S = 0) and they are partially substituted by Bi, also a non-magnetic ion, resulting on an effective moment μeff  ~ 8,2 µB, with no change as a function of the Bi content. / As propriedades estruturais e magnéticas do composto Co2MnO4, uma estrutura espinélio inversa de grupo espacial Fd3m e simetria cúbica, foram investigadas por difração de raios X e usando um magnetômetro SQUID. Co2MnO4 é um composto multiferróico, exibindo propriedades elétricas e magnéticas devido à presença dos elementos Co e Mn, distribuídos nos sítios tetraédricos e octaédricos da estrutura AB2O4. A flutuação das valências Co2+/Co3+ e Mn2+/Mn3+/Mn4+ podem ocorrer facilmente e estão sujeitas aos processos de síntese e efeitos térmicos, podendo ser associados a estes variações nos estados de oxidação de Co e Mn devido à substituições parciais destes elementos. Neste trabalho foram sintetizadas amostras BixCo2-xMnO4 (0,0 ≤ x ≤ 0,3), sendo o Bi um elemento não magnético. Para tal, uma rota de síntese química, o método MPPM, foi utilizada. Todas as amostras foram submetidas a tratamentos térmicos em condições idênticas, na temperatura de estabilização da fase BixCo2-xMnO4 igual a 1100ºC (24h). Os resultados de DRX e refinamentos de Rietveld mostraram que o método MPPM produziu amostras cristalinas com informações cristalográficas idênticas, exceto no caso do parâmetro de rede que aumentou em dependência ao percentual de Bi. As imagens morfológicas destes materiais mostraram que o Bi alterou a forma e o tamanho dos grãos variando entre (~0,5 – 1,7 µm). Devido ao limite de solubilidade do Bi dentro da rede espinélio e à diferença entre os raios iônicos do Co (0,65Å) e Bi (1,17Å), a formação de uma fase espúria rica em Bi ocorreu. No sentido de solucionar questões como esta, a síntese do sistema CoxBi2-xMnO4 (0,0 ≤ x ≤ 1,7) pela rota MPPM e de BixCo2-xMnO4 (0,0 ≤ x ≤ 0,3) por método de mecanosíntese foram realizadas. Os resultados magnéticos, curvas MxT (Zero Field – Cooled ZFC e Field – Cooled FC); 1/χ versus T e MxH, revelaram informações importantes sobre a disposição dos cátions presentes. O comportamento ferrimagnético de Co2MnO4 foi mantido, com as curvas ZFC e FC mostrando irreversibilidade e transições bem definidas abaixo de TC. No entanto, os valores de TC, Tmáx e MFC (extrapolação da curva FC para T = 0) obtidos por MxT, assim como ΘCW obtidos por 1/χ versus T, e HC e MS (magnetização de saturação para H= 50 kOe) obtidos por MxH sofreram mudanças significativas, as quais foram associadas ao Bi que alterou o ambiente magnético dos materiais. De acordo com os resultados estruturais e magnéticos, um balanço de cargas foi proposto para BixCo2-xMnO4: (Co2+)[Co2+x(Bi3+, CoIII)1-xMn3+1-xMn4+x]O4, sendo os cátions Co2+ nas posições ( ), responsáveis pelas interações AFM e todos os cátions posicionados em [ ] na relação acima, responsáveis pelo caráter FM destes materiais. Os valores de μef = ~ 8,2µB, para todas as amostras BixCo2-xMnO4 (0,0 ≤ x ≤ 0,3), não sofreram alterações. Os cátions CoIII, presentes nos sítios octaédricos, possuem uma configuração de baixo spin (S = 0), o que não implicou em qualquer mudança na soma total dos μef quando da substituição de Co por Bi, uma vez que ambos não são elementos co momentos magnéticos.

No description available.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / O efeito magnetocalórico, base da refrigeração magnética, é caracterizado por duas quantidades: a variação isotérmica da entropia (ΔST) e a variação adiabática da temperatura (ΔTS); que são obtidas sob variações na intensidade de um campo magnético aplicado. Em sistemas que apresentam anisotropia magnética, pode‐se definir o efeito magnetocalórico anisotrópico, o qual, por definição, é calculado sob variações na direção de aplicação de um campo magnético cuja intensidade mantém‐se fixa, e é caracterizado por duas quantidades: a variação anisotrópico‐isotérmica da entropia (ΔSan) e a variação anisotrópico‐adiabática da temperatura (ΔTan). O efeito magnetocalórico e o efeito magnetocalórico anisotrópico foram estudados nos compostos intermetálicos formados por terras e outros materiais não magnéticos: RNi2, RNi5, RZn e Gd1‐nPrnAl2. Os cálculos foram feitos partindo de hamiltonianos modelo que incluem as interações de troca, Zeeman, de campo cristalino e quadrupolar. / The magnetic refrigeration is based on the magnetocaloric effect. The magnetocaloric potential is characterized by the two thermodynamics quantities: the isothermal entropy change (ΔSiso) and the adiabatic temperature change (ΔTad), which are calculated upon a change in the intensity of the applied magnetic field. In anisotropic magnetic systems it is observed a change in the magnetocaloric effect, since this potential becomes strongly dependent on the direction in which the external magnetic field is applied. The anisotropy in such magnetic systems can lead to an inverse magnetocaloric effect, as well as to the definition of an anisotropic magnetocaloric effect, that by definition is calculated upon a magnetic field which intensity is kept fixed and which orientation is changed from a hard direction of magnetization to the easy direction of magnetization. This anisotropic magnetocaloric effect was performed for the RAl2 intermetallic compounds considering a microscopic model Hamiltonian that includes the Zeeman interaction, the exchange interaction (taken in the mean field approximation) and the crystalline electrical field, that is responsible for the anisotropy in the RAl2 compounds. The anisotropic magnetocaloric was fully investigated for the serie RAl2 and compared with the usual magnetocaloric effect and several curves of (ΔSiso) and (ΔTad) were obtained.

Transition metal compounds, especially the oxides, containing dn (0 ≤ n ≤ 10) electronic configuration, constitute the backbone of solid state/materials chemistry aimed at realization of novel materials properties of technological importance. Some of the significant materials properties of current interest are spin-polarized metallic ferromagnetism, negative thermal expansion, second harmonic nonlinear optical (NLO) susceptibility, fast ionic and mixed electronic/ionic conductivity for application in solid state batteries, and last but not the least, high-temperature superconductivity. Typical examples for each one of these properties could be found among transition metal oxides. Thus, alkaline-earth metal (A) substituted rare-earth (Ln) manganites, Lnı.xAxMnΟ3, are currently important examples for spin-polarized magnetotransport, ZrV2O7 and ZrW2O8 for negative thermal expansion coefficient, KTiOPO4 and LiNbO3 for second harmonic NLO susceptibility, (Li, La) TiO3 and LiMn2O4 for fast-ionic and mixed electronic/ionic conductivity respectively, and the whole host of cuprates typified by YBa2Cu3O7 for high Tc superconductivity. Solid state chemists constantly endeavour to obtain structure-property relations of solids so as to be able to design better materials towards desired properties. Synthesis coupled with characterization of structure and measurement of relevant properties is a common strategy that chemists adopt for this task. The work described in this thesis is based on such a broad-based chemists' approach towards understanding and realization of novel materials properties among the family of metal oxides. A search for metallic ferro/ferrimagnetism among the transition metal perovskite oxides, metallicity and possibility of superconductivity among transition-metal substituted cuprates and second order NLO susceptibility among metal oxides containing d° cations such as Ti(IV), V(V) and Nb(V) - constitute the main focus of the present thesis. New synthetic strategies that combine the conventional ceramic approach with the chemistry-based 'soft1 methods have been employed wherever possible to prepare the materials. The structures and electronic properties of the new materials have been probed by state-of-the art techniques that include powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) together with Rietveld refinement, electron diffraction, thermogravimetry, measurement of magnetic susceptibility (including magnetoresistance), Mossbauer spectroscopy and SHG response (towards 1064 nm laser radiation), besides conventional analytical techniques for determination of chemical compositions. Some of the highlights of the present thesis are: (i) synthesis of new mixed valent [Mn(III)/Mn(IV)] perovskite-type manganites, ALaMn2O6-y (A = K, Rb) and ALaBMn3O9_y (A = Na, K; B = Ca, Sr) that exhibit ferromagnetism and magnetoresistance; (ii) investigation of a variety of ferrimagnetic double-perovskites that include ALaMnRuO6 (A = Ca, Sr, Ba) and ALaFeVO6 (A = Ca, Sr) and A2FeReO6 (A = Ca, Sr, Ba) providing new insights into the occurrence of metallic and nonmetallic ferrimagnetic behaviour among this family of oxides; (iii) synthesis of new K2NiF4-type oxides, La2-2xSr2XCui.xMxO4 (M = Ti, Mn, Fe, Ru) and investigation of Cu-O-M interaction in two dimension and (iv) identification of the structural rnotif(s) that gives rise to efficient second order NLO optical (SHG) response among d° oxides containing Ti(IV), V(V), Nb(V) etc., and synthesis of a new SHG material, Ba2-xVOSi2O7 having the fresnoite structure. The thesis consists of five chapters and an appendix, describing the results of the investigations carried out by the candidate. A brief introduction to transition metaloxides, perovskite oxides in particular, is presented in Chapter 1. Attention is focused on the structure and properties of these materials. Chapter 2 describes the synthesis and investigation of two series of anion-deficient perovskite oxides, ALaMn2O6-y (A = K, Rb, Cs) and ALaBMn3O9_y (A = Na, K; B = Ca, Sr). ALaMn2O6-y (A = K, Rb, Cs) series of oxides adopt 2 ap x 2 ap superstructure for K and Rb phases and √2 av x √2 ap x 2 ap superstructure (ap = perovskite subcell) for the Cs phase. Among ALaBMn3O9-y phases, the A = Na members adopt a new kind of perovskite superstructure, ap x 3 ap, while the A = K phases do not reveal an obvious superstructure of the perovskite. All these oxides are ferromagnetic (Tc ~ 260-325 K) and metallic exhibiting a giant magnetoresistance behaviour similar to alkaline earth metal substituted lanthanum manganites, Lai_xAxMnO3. However, unlike the latter, the resistivity peak temperature Tp for all the anion-deficient manganites is significantly lower than Tc. In Chapter 3, we have investigated structure and electronic properties of double-perovskite oxides, A2FeReO6 (A = Ca, Sr and Ba). The A = Sr, Ba phases are cubic (Fm3m) and metallic, while the A = Ca phase is monoclinic (P2yn) and nonmetallic. All the three oxides are ferrimagnetic with Tcs 315-385 K as reported earlier. A = Sr, Ba phases show a negative magnetoresistance (MR) (10-25 % at 5 T), while the Ca member does not show an MR effect. 57Fe Mossbauer spectroscopy shows that iron is present in the high-spin Fe3+ (S = 5/2) state in Ca compound, while it occurs in an intermediate state between high-spin Fe2+ and Fe3+ in the Ba compound. Monoclinic distortion and high covalency of Ca-O bonds appear to freeze the oxidation states at Fe+3/Re5+ in Ca2FeRe O6, while the symmetric structure and ionic Ba-O bonds render the FeReO6 array highly covalent and Ba2FeReO6 metallic. Mossbauer data for Sr2FeReO6 shows that the valence state of iron in this compound is intermediate between that in Ba and Ca compounds. It is likely that Sr2FeReO6 which lies at the boundary between metallic and insulating states is metastable, phase-seperating into a percolating mixture of different electronic states at the microscopic level. In an effort to understand the occurrence of metallicity and ferrimagnetism among double perovskites, we have synthesized several new members : ALaMnFeO6 (A = Ca, Sr, Ba), ALaMnRuO6 (A = Ca, Sr, Ba) and ALaVFeO6 (A = Ca, Sr) (Chapter 3). Electron diffraction reveals an ordering of Mn and Ru in ALaMnRuO6 showing a doubling of the primitive cubic perovskite cell, while ALaVFeO6 do not show an ordering. ALaMnRuOs are ferrimagnetic (Tcs ~ 200-250 K) semiconductors, but ALaVFeO6 oxides do not show a long range magnetic ordering . The present work together with the previous work on double perovskites shows that only a very few of them exhibit both metallicity and ferrimagnetism, although several of them are ferrimagnetic. For example, among the series Ba2MReO6 (M = Mn, Fe, Co, Ni), only the M = Fe oxide is both metallic and ferrimagnetic, while M = Mn and Ni oxides are ferrimagnetic semiconductors. Similarly, A2CrMoO6 (A = Ca, Sr), A2CrRe06 (A = Ca, Sr), and ALaMnRuO6 (A = Ca, Sr, Ba) are all ferrimagnetic but not metallic. While ferrimagnetism of double perovskites arise from an antiferromagnetic coupling of B and B' spins through the B-O-B' bridges, the occurrence of metallicity seems to require precise matching of the energies of d-states of B and B' cations and a high covalency in the BB'O6 array that allows a facile electron-transfer between B and B', Bn++B’m+↔B(n+1)++B’(m-1)+ without an energy cost, just as occurs in ReO3 and other metallic ABO3 perovskites. In an effort to understand the Cu-O-M (M = Ti, Mn, Fe, Ru) electronic interaction in two dimension, we have investigated K2N1F4 oxides of the general formula La2-2xSr2XCui.xMxO4 (M = Ti, Mn, Fe or Ru). These investigations are described in Chapter 4. For M = Ti, only the x = 0.5 member could be prepared, while for M = Mn and Fe, the composition range is 0 < x < 1.0, and for M = Ru, the composition range is 0 < x ≤ 0.5. There is no evidence for ordering of Cu(II) and M(IV) in the x = 0.5 members. While the members of the M = Ti, Mn and Ru series are semiconducting/insulating, the members of the M = Fe series are metallic, showing a broad metal-semiconductor transition around 100 K for 0 < x ≤ 0.15 that is possibly related to a Cu(II)-O-Fe(IV) < > Cu(III)-O-Fe(III) valence degeneracy. Increasing the strontium content at the expense of lanthanum in La2-2xSr2XCui.xFexO4 for x ≤ 0.20 renders the samples metallic but not superconducting. In a search for inorganic oxide materials showing second order nonlinear optical (NLO) susceptibility, we have investigated several borates, silicates and phosphates containing /ram-connected MO6 octahedral chains or MO5 square-pyramids, where M = d°: Ti(IV), Nb(V) or Ta(V). Our investigations, which are described in Chapter 5, have identified two new NLO structures: batisite, Na2Ba(TiO)2Si4O12, containing trans-connectd TiO6 octahedral chains, and fresnoite, Ba2TiOSi2O7, containing square-pyramidal T1O5. Investigation of two other materials containing square-pyramidal TiO5, viz., Cs2TiOP2O7 and Na4Ti2Si8O22. 4H2O, revealed that isolated TiO5 square-pyramids alone do not cause a second harmonic generation (SHG) response; rather, the orientation of T1O5 units to produce -Ti-O-Ti-O- chains with alternating long and short Ti-0 distances in the fresnoite structure is most likely the origin of a strong SHG response in fresnoite. Indeed, we have been able to prepare a new fresnoite type oxide, Ba2.xVOSi2O7 (x ~ 0.5) that shows a strong SHG response, confirming this hypothesis. In the Appendix, we have described three synthetic strategies that enabled us to prepare magnetic and NLO materials. We have shown that the reaction CrO3 + 2 NH4X > CrO2 + 2 NH3 + H2O + X2 (X = Br, I), which occurs quantitatively at 120-150 °C, provides a convenient method for the synthesis of CrO2. Unlike conventional methods, the method described here does not require the use of high pressure for the synthesis of this technologically important material. For the synthesis of magnetic double perovskites, we have developed a method that involves reaction of basic alkali metal carbonates with the acidic oxides (e.g. Re2O7) first, followed by reaction of this precursor oxide with the required transition metal/transition metal oxide (e.g. Fe/Fe2O3). By this method we have successfully prepared single-phase perovskite oxides, A2FeReO6, ACrMoO6 and ALaFeVO6. We have prepared the new NLO material Ba2_xV0Si207 from Ba2VOSi2O7 by a soft chemical redox reaction involving the oxidation of V(IV) to V(V) using Br2 in CH3CN/CHCI3. Ba2V0Si207 + 1/2 Br2 > Bai.5V0Si207 + 1/2 BaBr2. The work presented in this thesis was carried out by the candidate as part of the Ph.D. training programme. He hopes that the studies reported here will constitute a worthwhile contribution to the solid state chemistry of transition metal oxides and related materials.

Ein großes Hindernis für die Anwendbarkeit von oxidischen Perowskiten in elektrotechnischen oder spintronischen Applikationen, ist die Größe der spezifischen Temperaturen, bei der die physikalischen Phänomene, wie Ferromagnetismus oder Hochtemperatur-Supraleitung, beobachtet werden können. Die physikalischen Eigenschaften der Perowskite zeigen eine Abhängigkeit von der Ordnung der verschiedenartigen Metallionen in mehrkomponentigen Systemen. Die Abhängigkeit ergibt sich durch den Einfluss der Metallionen auf die Elektronenkonfiguration und elastischen Verspannung innerhalb des Materials. Man spricht in diesem Zusammenhang auch von der Kontrolle der Füllung und der Bandbreite der elektronischen Bänder im Material durch die Wahl der Metallionen. Die Zielsetzung dieser Arbeit ist die Präparation und Charakterisierung von künstlich A-Platz geordneten schmal- und breitbandigen Manganat Dünnfilmen als auch von natürlich B-Platz geordneten ferro-/ferrimagnetischen doppelperowskitischen Dünnfilmen. Für die Präparation der dünnen Schichten wurde die unkonventionelle Metallorganischen Aerosol Deposition (MAD) verwendet. Es konnte gezeigt werden, dass diverse künstlich oder natürlich Kationengeordnete Perowskite mit der MAD Technologie präpariert werden können. Die lagenweise A-Platz Ordnung in Manganaten führt, über die Modulation der Gitterverspannung und der Elektronenbesetzung im eg-Band der Manganionen, zu modifizierten elektronischen und magnetischen Eigenschaften. In schmalbandigen CMR Manganaten wurde die PS und somit der CMR über die Ordnung beeinflusst, während in breitbandigen CMR Manganaten ein Weg aufgezeigt werden konnte, der zu Übergangstemperaturen TC > 370K führen kann. In geordneten, ferromagnetischen Doppelperowskiten wurde der Einfluss und die Anwesenheit von Antiphasen-Grenzen dargelegt. Über die Einführung einer aktiven Valenz-Kontrolle, konnte die Präparation von halbmetallischen, ferrimagnetischen Doppelperowskiten mit der MAD Technologie ermöglicht werden.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / O efeito magnetocalórico, base da refrigeração magnética, é caracterizado por duas quantidades: a variação isotérmica da entropia (&#916;ST) e a variação adiabática da temperatura (&#916;TS); que são obtidas sob variações na intensidade de um campo magnético aplicado. Em sistemas que apresentam anisotropia magnética, pode&#8208;se definir o efeito magnetocalórico anisotrópico, o qual, por definição, é calculado sob variações na direção de aplicação de um campo magnético cuja intensidade mantém&#8208;se fixa, e é caracterizado por duas quantidades: a variação anisotrópico&#8208;isotérmica da entropia (&#916;San) e a variação anisotrópico&#8208;adiabática da temperatura (&#916;Tan). O efeito magnetocalórico e o efeito magnetocalórico anisotrópico foram estudados nos compostos intermetálicos formados por terras e outros materiais não magnéticos: RNi2, RNi5, RZn e Gd1&#8208;nPrnAl2. Os cálculos foram feitos partindo de hamiltonianos modelo que incluem as interações de troca, Zeeman, de campo cristalino e quadrupolar. / The magnetic refrigeration is based on the magnetocaloric effect. The magnetocaloric potential is characterized by the two thermodynamics quantities: the isothermal entropy change (&#916;Siso) and the adiabatic temperature change (&#916;Tad), which are calculated upon a change in the intensity of the applied magnetic field. In anisotropic magnetic systems it is observed a change in the magnetocaloric effect, since this potential becomes strongly dependent on the direction in which the external magnetic field is applied. The anisotropy in such magnetic systems can lead to an inverse magnetocaloric effect, as well as to the definition of an anisotropic magnetocaloric effect, that by definition is calculated upon a magnetic field which intensity is kept fixed and which orientation is changed from a hard direction of magnetization to the easy direction of magnetization. This anisotropic magnetocaloric effect was performed for the RAl2 intermetallic compounds considering a microscopic model Hamiltonian that includes the Zeeman interaction, the exchange interaction (taken in the mean field approximation) and the crystalline electrical field, that is responsible for the anisotropy in the RAl2 compounds. The anisotropic magnetocaloric was fully investigated for the serie RAl2 and compared with the usual magnetocaloric effect and several curves of (&#916;Siso) and (&#916;Tad) were obtained.

Consolidating a microscopic understanding of magnetic properties is crucial for a rational design of magnetic materials with tailored characteristics. The interplay of 3d and 4f magnetism in rare-earth transition metal antimonides is an ideal platform to search for such complex behavior. Here the synthesis, crystal growth, structure, and complex magnetic properties are reported of the new compound Pr3Fe3Sb7 as studied by magnetization and electrical transport measurements in static and pulsed magnetic fields up to 56 T, powder neutron diffraction, and Mößbauer spectroscopy. On cooling without external magnetic field, Pr3Fe3Sb7 shows spontaneous magnetization, indicating a symmetry breaking without a compensating domain structure. The Fe substructure exhibits noncollinear ferromagnetic order below the Curie temperature TC ≈ 380 K. Two spin orientations exist, which approximately align along the Fe–Fe bond directions, one parallel to the ab plane and a second one with the moments canting away from the c axis. The Pr substructure orders below 40 K, leading to a spin-reorientation transition (SRT) of the iron substructure. In low fields, the Fe and Pr magnetic moments order antiparallel to each other, which gives rise to a magnetization antiparallel to the external field. At 1.4 K, the magnetization approaches saturation above 40 T. The compound exhibits metallic resistivity along the c axis, with a small anomaly at the SRT.