Electrical and magnetic properties of ZnCr2S4 - nanoparticles

The results of magnetic and electrical measurements of ZnCr2S4 - nanoparticles (NPs) synthesized by mechanical alloying method showed an almost ideal paramagnetic state with the weak ferromagnetic short-range interactions derived from a small positive paramagnetic Curie-Weiss temperature of 0 = 0.9 K and the presence of magnetic NPs confirmed by the significantly lower value of the effective magnetic moment (mu(eff) = 2.089 mu(B)/f.u.) compared to the mu(eff) = 5.215 mu(B)/f.u. for bulk spinel as well as ntype semiconducting behavior with an extrinsic region not thermally activated and with an intrinsic region with an activation energy of 0.253 eV. Broadband dielectric spectroscopy measurements showed the relaxation processes only in the intrinsic region of the electrical conductivity, i.e. above 170 K, in which the dipole relaxation becomes faster as temperature rise. These results are interpreted in the framework of the Cole-Cole function and a hopping variable range model including structural defects. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The results of magnetic and electrical measurements on ZnCr2S4 nanoparticles synthesized by mechanical alloying method revealed nearly ideal paramagnetic state with weak ferromagnetic short-range interactions, as well as n-type semiconducting behavior. Broadband dielectric spectroscopy measurements showed relaxation processes only in the intrinsic region of the electrical conductivity.