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Abstract:

We report muon-spin relaxation measurements on SrFeAsF, which is the parent compound of an iron-arsenic- fluoride based series of superconducting materials. We find that this material has very similar magnetic properties to LaFeAsO, such as separated magnetic and structural transitions (TN =122 K, Ts =175 K), contrasting with SrFe2 As2 where they are coincident. The muon oscillation frequencies fall away very sharply at TN [β=0.22 (3)], which suggests that the magnetic exchange between the layers is weaker than in comparable oxypnictide compounds. Our specific-heat measurements show that a small but distinct feature occurs at Ts. There is no anomaly evident at TN as is typical for quasi-two-dimensional magnets. The magnetic entropy change between 100 and 185 K is ΔS=0.5 J mol-1 K-1. © 2009 The American Physical Society.

Abstract:

The structural, electronic, and magnetic properties of the new linear chain coordination polymer CuF 2(H 20) 2(pyz) (pyz = pyrazine) were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction at various temperatures, SQUID magnetometry, pulsed-field magnetization, ESR, muon-spin relaxation (uSR), and electronic structure calculations. Each Cu ²⁺ ion of CuF 2(H 2O) 2(pyz) is located at a distorted CuF 2O 2N 2octahedron with axial elongation along the Cu-N bonds. These octahedra are tethered together by strong F. . . H-O hydrogen bonds to yield two-dimensional (2D) square nets in the bc-plane that are linked along the α-direction by pyrazine linkages. Measurements of the g-factor by ESR along with first principles density functional theory electronic structure calculations show that the magnetic orbital of the Cu ²⁺ ion lies in the CUF 2O 2 plane thus forming a 2D antiferromagnetic square lattice. A broad maximum observed in χ(T) at 10 K indicates a modest spin exchange interaction through the Cu-F. . . H-O-Cu supersuperexchange paths, and a theoretical fit of χ(T) to a 2D square model gives J 2D LK B= -5.58(1) K (in the convention where J rather than 2J is used for spin exchange). At lower temperatures, χ(T) shows a sharp peak at ̃2.6 K, which signals a transition to a long-range magnetic ordering as confirmed by coherent precession of implanted muons. Isothermal M{B) measurements made at 0.5 K on an aligned single crystal reveal magnetic saturation, M sat, at 28.8 T (Blla) while a higher field of 33.1 T is required to saturate the spins when B is applied perpendicular to the α-axis thus showing clear anisotropy in these orientations. The presence of strong hydrogen bonds in CuF 2(H 20)2(ρyz) causes the chains to adopt a tilted packing arrangement, thus leading to a novel ground-state likely characterized by spin-canting within the 2D layers and a markedly increased critical temperature relative to the well-known Cu(NO 3) 2(pyz) polymer chain compound. © 2008 American Chemical Society.