Abstract: New double perovskites LaPbMSbO₆, where M²⁺ = Mn²⁺, Co²⁺, and Ni²⁺, were synthesized as polycrystals by an aqueous synthetic route at temperatures below 1000 ^°C. All samples are monoclinic, space group P2₁/n, as it is observed from Rietveld analysis of X-ray powder diffraction patterns. The distribution of M²⁺ and Sb⁵⁺ among the two octahedral sites have 3% of disorder for M²⁺ = Ni²⁺, whereas for M²⁺ = Mn²⁺ and Co²⁺ less disorder is found. The three samples have an antiferromagnetic transition, due to the antiferromagnetic coupling between M^{2 +} through super-superexchange paths M²⁺-O^2--Sb⁵⁺-O^2--M²⁺. Transition temperatures are low: 8, 10 and 17 K for Mn²⁺, Co²⁺, and Ni^{2 +} respectively, as a consequence of the relatively long distances between the magnetic ions M²⁺. Besides, for LaPbMnSbO₆ a small transition at 45 K was found, with ferrimagnetic characteristics, possibly as a consequence of a small disorder between Mn²⁺ and Sb⁵⁺. This disorder would give additional and shorter interaction paths: superexchange Mn²⁺-O^2--Mn²⁺.

Abstract: Stoichiometric Ni2MnGa alloys are processed by two rapid solidification techniques – single-roller (SR) and twin-roller (TR) melt spinning – and the resulting microstructures and magnetic properties determined. Samples processed at tangential wheel speeds of 10m/s (V10) and 15m/s (V15) are studied in the as-cast condition to analyze the influence of the production methods on the microstructure. Important aspects like the resulting phases, their crystallographic texture, magnetic properties, martensitic transformation temperatures and Curie temperatures are compared. In addition, the magnetization mechanism involving twin boundary motion is explored. Our results indicate that the TR method provides lower cooling rates, thicker samples, higher internal stresses and larger MnS precipitates. However, the quenching rate is mainly determined by the tangential wheel velocity. TR samples also exhibit [100] texture normal to the ribbon plane but in a lesser extent than SR ribbons. Martensitic transformation temperatures are higher in samples V15 (~150K) than in V10 (~100K), with no clear difference between the SR and TR modes. This behavior is explained by considering distinct degrees of disorder in the L21 austenite phase resulting from quenching. The hysteresis of the transformation, defined as the difference Af−MS, takes similar values in the four samples analyzed. Pre-martensitic transformation temperatures are also slightly higher in samples V15, (230±3) K, than in samples V10, (222±3) K, as the magnitude of the Hopkinson effect, in good agreement with a higher residual stress level in TR ribbons. In the martensitic state, all ribbons exhibit hysteresis loops characteristic of a magnetization mechanism involving twin boundary motion. The switching magnetic fields for the onset of Type I twin boundary motion result between 220mT and 365mT, values equivalent to twinning stresses of about 1MPa. It is concluded that both procedures, SR and TR melt spinning, provide microstructures favoring magnetic field induced twin variant reorientation.

Abstract: We have made a systematic study of the magnetic properties of low doped manganite films submitted to different oxygenation treatments. We have found that oxygenation dynamics depends critically of the strain field in the sample. The TC and the Mr increase as the oxygen content is increased. A decrease of the coercive field of the LSMO-STO films was observed, indicating that annealing treatments increase the oxygen content reducing oxygen vacancies.