MAGNETIC-PROPERTIES OF (CR-1-XFEX)(3)TE-4

The magnetic properties of (Cr1-xFex)(3)Te-4 with the pseudo-NiAs type structure have been studied. The ferromagnetic transition temperatures (T-C) for the compounds are found to decrease with substitution of Fe for Cr, from the magnetization measurements. From the variation of T-C with x, monoclinic (Cr1-xFex)(3)Te-4 (x = 0 similar to 0.04) and hexagonal (Cr1-xFex)(3)Te-4 (x similar to 0.15) are found to be stable at room temperature, and the solubility limit of the iron-rich side for the hexagonal (Cr1-xFex)(3)Te-4 is estimated to be x = 0.18. A weak antiferromagnetic transition has been found for monoclinic (Cr1-xFex)(3)Te-4 (x = 0 similar to 0.04). The critical Fe concentration (x) at which the antiferromagnetic transition disappears in (Cr1-xFex)(3)Te-4 is estimated to be x = 0.08. In the range x = 0 similar to 0.02, the saturation magnetization for (Cr1-xFex)(3)Te-4 increases with x due to the substitution of Fe, which has a larger magnetic moment than Cr. Above x = 0.04, the saturation magnetization decreases with increasing x, which is considered to be due to decreased magnetic interaction between metal atoms as a result of the Fe substitution for Cr. From the variation of the saturation magnetization for (Cr1-xFex)(3)Te-4 with x, the solubility limit of the iron-rich side for hexagonal (Cr1-xFex)(3)Te-4 is estimated to be x = 0.18. (C) 1995 Academic Press, Inc.