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The Co2B system shows a significant magnetovolume effect around its Curie temperature which makes it potentially attractive for magnetocaloric applications or thermomagnetic power generation, as a large coupling between the lattice and spin degrees of freedom is expected. We report on the synthesis of a series of Co2-xMnxB alloys and the investigation of their properties. The structural analysis indicates a single phase behavior up to x = 0.8 with no structural symmetry changes throughout the series. Measurements of both, macroscopic and local magnetic properties, reveal an anomalous behavior of the spontaneous magnetization, Curie temperature, and element-specific magnetic moments as a function of manganese concentration. The elemental contributions to the magnetization are analyzed using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) studies. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations guide us in the understanding of the origin of the observed anomaly, which is due to a complex magnetic coupling behavior between Mn atoms, which significantly affects the corresponding exchange interactions. The magnetocaloric properties of the Co2-xMnxB alloys show that the maximum entropy change peak temperature can be shifted between room temperature and 450 K upon variation of the manganese concentration without significant impact on the magnetocaloric response. The highest entropy change of -1.37 Jkg(-1)K(-1) at 442 K is obtained for x = 0.1 for a field change of 2 T. This value is, however, quite low for any possible magnetocaloric or thermomagnetic power generation applications. Nevertheless, the good agreement between the advanced characterization and theory gives a deeper understanding of the Co2-xMnxB material system which can in the future be extended to other systems. (C) 2018 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

We discuss the impact of concomitant substitution of Fe by Mn and La by Y in optimally F-doped ${\mathrm{LaFeAsO}}_{0.89}{\mathrm{F}}_{0.11}$. Mn has a known poisoning effect on superconductivity which is particularly strong in the La1111 system, where 0.2% of Mn were reported to completely suppress superconductivity. Through isovalent substitution of La by the much smaller Y we are able to inflict chemical pressure on the structure, which we show is stabilizing the superconducting state, resulting in a drastically larger amount of Mn needed to completely quench superconductivity. Interestingly, we find that the lattice parameter $\mathit{c}$ changes significantly even for small amounts of Mn substitution within a series, which is unexpected taking only the differences between ionic radii into account. We discuss our findings in the light of electron localization caused by small amounts of paramagnetic Mn impurities in ${\mathrm{La}}_{1\ensuremath{-}y}{\mathrm{Y}}_{y}{\mathrm{Fe}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{Mn}}_{x}{\mathrm{AsO}}_{0.89}{\mathrm{F}}_{0.11}$ also indicated by resistivity and M\"o\ss{}bauer measurements.

The increasing interest in nanoscale materials goes hand in hand with the challenge to reliably characterize the chemical compositions and structural features of nanosized objects in order to relate those to their physical properties. Despite efforts, the analysis of the chemical composition of individual multi-element nanoparticles remains challenging—from the technical point of view as well as from the point of view of measurement statistics. Here, we demonstrate that zero-field solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) complements local, single particle transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies with information on a large assembly of chemically complex nanoparticles. The combination of both experimental techniques gives information on the local composition and structure and provides an excellent measurement statistic through the corresponding NMR ensemble measurement. This analytical approach is applicable to many kinds of magnetic materials and therefore may prove very versatile in the future research of particulate magnetic nanomaterials.

The S=1/2 Heisenberg spin chain compound SrCuO2 doped with different amounts of nickel (Ni), palladium (Pd), zinc (Zn) and cobalt (Co) has been studied by means of Cu nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Replacing only a few of the S=1/2 Cu ions with Ni, Pd, Zn or Co has a major impact on the magnetic properties of the spin chain system. In the case of Ni, Pd and Zn an unusual line broadening in the low temperature NMR spectra reveals the existence of an impurity-induced local alternating magnetization (LAM), while exponentially decaying spin-lattice relaxation rates $T_1^{-1}$ towards low temperatures indicate the opening of spin gaps. A distribution of gap magnitudes is proven by a stretched spin-lattice relaxation and a variation of $T_1^{-1}$ within the broad resonance lines. These observations depend strongly on the impurity concentration and therefore can be understood using the model of finite segments of the spin 1/2 antiferromagnetic Heisenberg chain, i.e. pure chain segmentation due to S = 0 impurities. This is surprising for Ni as it was previously assumed to be a magnetic impurity with S = 1 which is screened by the neighboring copper spins. In order to confirm the S = 0 state of the Ni, we performed x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and compared the measurements to simulated XAS spectra based on multiplet ligand-field theory. Furthermore, Zn doping leads to much smaller effects on both the NMR spectra and the spin-lattice relaxation rates, indicating that Zn avoids occupying Cu sites. For magnetic Co impurities, $T_1^{-1}$ does not obey the gap like decrease, and the low-temperature spectra get very broad. This could be related to the increase of the Neel temperature which was observed by recent muSR and susceptibility measurements, and is most likely an effect of the impurity spin $S\neq0$., 14 pages, 10 figures

The cubic double perovskite Ba$_2$YIrO$_6$ has been investigated by the local probe techniques nuclear magnetic resonance ($^{89}$Y NMR) and muon spin rotation (muSR). Both methods confirm the absence of magnetic long-range order in this compound but find evidence for diluted localized paramagnetic moments. NMR spin-lattice relaxation rate 1/T1 measurements suggest a slowing down of localized spin moments at low temperatures. An increase of the muSR spin-lattice relaxation rate lambda confirms the presence of weak magnetism in Ba$_2$YIrO$_6$ . However, these findings cannot be explained by the recently suggested excitonic type of magnetism. Instead, they point towards tiny amounts of localized paramagnetic spin centers leading to this magnetic response on the background of a simple nonmagnetic ground state of the 5d$^4$ ($J=0)$ electronic configuration of Ir$^{5+}$., Comment: 8 pages, 7 figures

Using nuclear quadrupole resonance, the phase diagram of $1111 R{\mathrm{FeAsO}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{F}}_{x}$ ($R=\text{La}$, Ce, Sm) iron pnictides is constructed as a function of the local charge distribution in the paramagnetic state, which features low-doping-like (LD-like) and high-doping-like (HD-like) regions. Compounds based on magnetic rare earths (Ce, Sm) display a unified behavior, and comparison with La-based compounds reveals the detrimental role of static iron $3d$ magnetism on superconductivity, as well as a qualitatively different evolution of the latter at high doping. It is found that the LD-like regions fully account for the orthorhombicity of the system, and are thus the origin of any static iron magnetism. Orthorhombicity and static magnetism are not hindered by superconductivity but limited by dilution effects, in agreement with two-dimensional (2D) (respectively three-dimensional) nearest-neighbor square lattice site percolation when the rare earth is nonmagnetic (respectively magnetic). The LD-like regions are not intrinsically supportive of superconductivity, contrary to the HD-like regions, as evidenced by the well-defined Uemura relation between the superconducting transition temperature and the superfluid density when accounting for the proximity effect. This leads us to propose a complete description of the interplay of ground states in 1111 pnictides, where nanoscopic regions compete to establish the ground state through suppression of superconductivity by static magnetism, and extension of superconductivity by proximity effect.

The $S=1/2$ antiferromagnetic Heisenberg spin chain compound ${\mathrm{Sr}}_{2}{\mathrm{CuO}}_{3}$ doped with $1%$ and $2%$ of Ni impurities has been studied by means of $^{63}\mathrm{Cu}$ nuclear magnetic resonance. A strong decrease of the spin-lattice relaxation rate ${T}_{1}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ at low temperatures points toward a spin gap, while a stretching exponent $\ensuremath{\lambda}l1$ and a frequency dependence of ${T}_{1}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ indicate that this spin gap varies spatially and should rather be characterized as a spin pseudogap. The magnitude of the spin pseudogap scales with doping level. Our results therefore evidence the finite-size character of this phenomenon. Moreover, an unusual narrowing of the low-temperature NMR lines reveals the suppression of the impurity-induced staggered paramagnetic response with increasing doping level.

We report $^{63}$Cu nuclear magnetic resonance and muon spin rotation measurements on the S=1/2 antiferromagnetic Heisenberg spin chain compound Sr$_{1.9}$Ca$_{0.1}$CuO$_3$. An exponentially decreasing spin-lattice relaxation rate 1/T$_1$ indicates the opening of a spin gap. This behavior is very similar to what has been observed for the cognate zigzag spin chain compound Sr$_{0.9}$Ca$_{0.1}$CuO$_2$, and confirms that the occurrence of a spin gap upon Ca doping is independent of the interchain exchange coupling $J'$. Our results therefore generally prove the appearance of a spin gap in an antiferromagnetic Heisenberg spin chain induced by a local bond disorder of the intrachain exchange coupling $J$. A low temperature upturn of 1/T$_1$ evidences growing magnetic correlations. However, zero field muon spin rotation measurements down to 1.5 K confirm the absence of magnetic order in this compound which is most likely suppressed by the opening of the spin gap.

authoren Orbital ordering has recently emerged as another important state in iron-based superconductors, and its role for superconductivity as well as its connection to magnetic order and orthorhombic lattice distortion are heavily debated. In order to search for signatures of this so-called nematic phase in oxypnictides, we revisit the normal state properties of the pnictide superconductor LaFeAsO1−x Fx with a focus on resistivity, Nernst effect, thermal expansion, and As nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) data. The transport properties at the underdoped level exhibit pronounced anomalies at about the same temperature where undoped LaFeAsO develops long-range nematic ordering, i.e., at about 160 K. Furthermore, the As-NMR spin-lattice relaxation rate reveals a progressive slowing down of spin fluctuations. Yet, long-range magnetic order and also a detectable orthorhombic lattice distortion are absent. Thus, we conclude from the data that short-range orbital-nematic ordering or a slowly fluctuating form of it sets in near 160 K. Remarkably, all anomalies in the transport and also the indications of slow spin fluctuations disappear close to optimal doping which suggests that in LaFeAsO1−x Fx the nematic phase actually competes with superconductivity. Schematic electronic phase diagram of LaFeAsO1−x Fx.

The charge distribution in RFeAsO$_{1-x}$F$_x$ (R=La, Sm) iron pnictides is probed using As nuclear quadrupole resonance. Whereas undoped and optimally-doped or overdoped compounds feature a single charge environment, two charge environments are detected in the underdoped region. Spin-lattice relaxation measurements show their coexistence at the nanoscale. Together with the quantitative variations of the spectra with doping, they point to a local electronic order in the iron layers, where low- and high-doping-like regions would coexist. Implications for the interplay of static magnetism and superconductivity are discussed., Comment: 4 pages