LiFe2Cl n (n = 4–6) clusters: Double-exchange mediated molecular magnets

Authors

Kalpataru Pradhan, Virginia Commonwealth UniversityFollow
Purusottam Jena, Virginia Commonwealth UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Original Publication Date

2014

Journal/Book/Conference Title

Applied Physics Letters

Volume

105

DOI of Original Publication

10.1063/1.4900421

Comments

Originally published by the American Institute of Physics at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4900421

Date of Submission

April 2015

Abstract

A systematic study of LiFe2Cl n (n = 4–6) clusters, based on gradient corrected density functional theory (DFT), shows that the electron contributed by Li can transform antiferromagnetic Fe2Cl n(n = 4 and 6) clusters into ferromagnetic clusters. In Fe2Cl6 (Fe2Cl4) cluster, the Fe atoms in +3 (+2) oxidation states are aligned antiferromagnetically, consistent with the super-exchange model. The extra electron from Li atom creates a charge disproportionation in the LiFe2Cl6(LiFe2Cl4) cluster that mediates the double-exchange interaction between the Fe atoms.Antiferromagnetic to ferromagnetic transition can also be induced by hole doping as seen to be the case with Fe2Cl5 which has a ferromagnetic ground state. Simultaneous electron and holedoping is also seen to impact on the magnetic properties of LiFe2Cl5 which can be viewed as (Fe2Cl4+LiCl). While Fe2Cl4 is antiferromagnetic and LiCl is nonmagnetic, the ground state of LiFe2Cl5 is ferromagnetic. We also analyzed the results with on-site Coulomb interaction U by performing DFT+U calculations. These results can be useful in the synthesis of functionalmolecular magnets.

Rights

Pradhan, K. and Jena, P. LiFe2Cl n (n = 4–6) clusters: Double-exchange mediated molecular magnets. Applied Physics Letters, 105, 163112 (2014). Copyright © 2014 AIP Publishing LLC.

Is Part Of

VCU Physics Publications