Tuning of Magnetic Properties of α-RuCl3 Single Crystal by Cr Doping.

We study the influence of Cr doping on magnetic properties of α-RuCl3single crystals in detail. With increasing Cr content, the c-axial lattice parameter increases gradually, implying that the Cr doping may weaken the interlayer interactions. The magnetism of Ru1 – xCrxCl3single crystals evolves from a long-range AFM order to a possible spin-glass state with Cr doping. The appearance of a possible spin-glass state can be explained by the introduction of FM interaction by Cr3+ions, which competes with the AFM interaction between Ru3+ions. Moreover, the larger magnetic moment of Cr3+ion with S = 3/2 than Ru3+ion with Jeff = 1/2 also results in a monotonic increase of the effective moment of Ru1 – xCrxCl3single crystal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]