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We have investigated the electronic structure of the high oxidation state material YCrO$_4$ within the framework of the Zaanen-Sawatzky-Allen phase diagram. While Cr$^{4+}$-based compounds like SrCrO$_3$/CaCrO$_3$ and CrO$_2$ can be classified as small-gap or metallic negative-charge-transfer systems, we find using photoelectron spectroscopy that YCrO$_4$ is a robust insulator despite the fact that its Cr ions have an even higher formal valence state of 5+. We reveal using band structure calculations that the tetrahedral coordination of the Cr$^{5+}$ ions in YCrO$_4$ plays a decisive role, namely to diminish the bonding of the Cr $3d$ states with the top of the O $2p$ valence band. This finding not only explains why the charge-transfer energy remains effectively positive and the material stable, but also opens up a new route to create doped carriers with symmetries different from those of other transition-metal ions., Comment: 6 pages, 6 figures

This paper reports the specific conditions used in the preparation of RCrO4 oxides, R=Nd, Sm, Eu and Lu, the structural determination, and the study of their magnetic behaviour. The structure of these compounds has been refined from X-ray powder diffraction by the Rietveld method, assigning the zircon type, space group I41/amd. A linear decrease has been observed in the lattice parameters from NdCrO4 to LuCrO4, according to the lanthanide contraction. Magnetic susceptibility measurements reveal the existence of an antiferromagnetic ordering in which both Cr5+ and R3+ sublattices are involved. In the case of NdCrO4, the estimated Neel temperature appears to be lower than 2 K; for the remaining oxides, it is 14.9 K, 15.9 K and 9.9 K for Sm, Eu and Lu, respectively. A superexchange mechanism has been proposed to explain such a magnetic behaviour. The pathways through which these interactions take place have also been analysed, taking into account the structural features that these oxides present. The Cr5+ plays an important role as a promoter of these interactions in the R3+ sublattice.

MFe2O4 (M = Ni and Zn) nanoparticles were prepared by the hydrothermal method. The obtained samples were characterized by X-ray and electron diffraction, Scanning and Transmission Electron Microscopy and Mössbauer spectroscopy. The transmission images show homogeneous shape and particle size ranging from 10 to 40 nm, depending on the nature of the M cation. Mössbauer spectroscopy yields to a ratio of occupancy between the A and B sites of 0.7 in the case of NiFe2O4 oxide. DC magnetization (2-300 K) measurements reveal a superparamagnetic behaviour for the ZnFe2O4 sample with a blocking temperature of 20 K. By contrast, in the case of the NiFe2O4 ferrite the blocking temperature appears to be above 300 K and at lower temperature, it shows a ferrimagnetic behaviour arising from the superexchange interactions that take place in this inverse spinel. Mössbauer spectroscopy results confirm the bulk magnetic measurements.Se han preparado mediante el método hidrotermal nanopartículas de ferritas MFe2O4 (M = Ni, Zn). Las muestras obtenidas fueron caracterizadas mediante difracción de rayos X y electrones, microscopía electrónica de transmisión y barrido y espectroscopia Mössbauer. Las imágenes de transmisión muestran partículas de forma y tamaño homogéneo de 10 a 40 nm según la naturaleza del catión M. La espectroscopia Mössbauer revela una relación de ocupación entre los sitios A y B por los átomos de hierro de 0.7 en el caso del óxido NiFe2O4. Las medidas de magnetización DC (2 – 300 K) muestran un comportamiento superparamagnético para la muestra ZnFe2O4 con una temperatura de bloqueo de 20 K. En el caso de las nanopartículas de NiFe2O4 la temperatura de bloqueo parece estar por encima de los 300 K mostrando por debajo de la misma, comportamiento ferrimagnético provocado por las interacciones de superintercambio que tienen lugar en esta espinela inversa. Los resultados de espectroscopia Mössbauer confirman los datos de las medidas magnéticas.