Scientific Reports (Aug 2017)

Large spontaneous exchange bias in a weak ferromagnet Pb6Ni9(TeO6)5

  • B. Koteswararao,
  • Tanmoy Chakrabarty,
  • Tathamay Basu,
  • Binoy Krishna Hazra,
  • P. V. Srinivasarao,
  • P. L. Paulose,
  • S. Srinath

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-09056-w
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 7, no. 1
pp. 1 – 7

Abstract

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Abstract We report the magnetic and dielectric behavior of Pb6Ni9(TeO6)5, a new compound comprising the honeycomb-like layers of S = 1 spins, through detailed structural, magnetic and dielectric investigation. An antiferromagnetic-type transition at 25 K (T N ) with weak-ferromagnetic behavior is revealed. Interestingly, a large value of coercive field of 1.32 T at 2 K is observed. The isothermal magnetization after zero-field-cooled condition, it exhibits the presence of large spontaneous exchange bias (SEB) with a magnitude of 0.19 T at 2 K; which is rare in single bulk materials, especially without external doping. The value of |H EB| further enhances to 0.24 T under 16 T field-cooled condition, confirming the presence of large exchange bias in the material.