Magnetic Properties of Single Crystals Cr_2-δTe₃

Abstract

The magnetic transitions of the Cr-Te system has not been explained by a suitable model. Therefore, the magnetic properties of the single crystals of Cr 2-δ Te 3 , prepared by the chemical transport method, were investigated. From the measurement of the magnetic susceptibility above room temperature S =3.0 8 /2 per Cr-ion is obtained, which is coincident with the spin only value of Cr 3+ ion and a ferromagnetic transition is found to be expected. While, from the extrapolated magnetization value to 0 K, the Bohr magneton numbers per Cr-ion are 2.0 2 and 1.9 6 µ B for Cr 1.96 Te 3 and Cr 1.98 Te 3 , respectively, and these values are in contradiction to those expected from the magnetic susceptibility. Qualitative considerations about these anomalous magnetic transition are given.