Open AccessSite-substitution effect on skyrmion phases of Cd2+-Cu2OSeO3 nanocrystallites
Author(s) -
Shyam Babu,
Budhendra Singh,
Shrawan Mishra
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
materials research express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2053-1591
DOI - 10.1088/2053-1591/abbafb
Subject(s) - skyrmion , x ray photoelectron spectroscopy , crystallinity , materials science , transmission electron microscopy , magnetization , condensed matter physics , nanotechnology , crystallography , chemistry , nuclear magnetic resonance , magnetic field , physics , quantum mechanics
The past decade has seen a significant uptick in research interest to study the materials that can host magnetic skyrmion lattices. The curiosity of such materials is mainly driven by the technological applications of emergent skyrmion lattices that manifest a whirlpool-like spins arrangement. Insulating Cu 2 OSeO 3 reported to host magnetic skyrmion lattices below 60 K and considered as a potential candidate for exploring this new phase of materials. Here in this article, we propose a new synthesis process to grow the Cd 2+ -substituted Cu 2 OSeO 3 nanocrystallites with variable sizes ranging over 50–200 nm. The proposed method consists of only a single-step heat treatment of 12 h, which is cost-effectivethan the routine solid-state process that requires a rigorous 15–20 days of heat treatment. By employing X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and isothermal magnetization (M-T) measurements, we present a comparative investigation of the structural, electronic and magnetic properties of pristine and Cd 2+ -substituted Cu 2 OSeO 3 nanocrystallites. As non-magnetic substitution can alter the fundamental magnetic interactions, therefore, Cd 2+ -Cu 2 OSeO 3 nanocrystallites offer a new methodology to control the magnetic skyrmion phases and its stability.