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Published on: April 14, 2020
Novel Strongly Correlated Europium Superhydrides
Dmitrii V Semenok1, Di Zhou2, Alexander G Kvashnin1
1Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Skolkovo Innovation Center, Bolshoy Boulevard 30, bld. 1, Moscow 143026, Russia.
Researchers discovered new magnetic europium superhydrides under high pressure. These materials, including cubic and hexagonal EuH9 and a clathrate phase, exhibit unique magnetic properties and stability influenced by atomic radius.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- High-Pressure Physics
- Solid-State Chemistry
Background:
- Europium polyhydrides are of interest for their potential unique electronic and magnetic properties.
- Understanding their behavior under extreme pressure is crucial for discovering novel materials.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the high-pressure chemistry and properties of europium polyhydrides.
- To discover and characterize novel magnetic europium superhydrides.
Main Methods:
- Joint experimental-theoretical investigation at 86-130 GPa.
- Density Functional Theory with DFT+U approach.
- Monte Carlo simulations for magnetic ordering.
Main Results:
- Discovery of cubic EuH9, hexagonal EuH9, and cubic Eu8H46 (Pm3n clathrate).
- Observed magnetic ordering: antiferromagnetic in cubic EuH9 (up to 24 K), ferromagnetic in hexagonal EuH9 (137 K) and Eu8H46 (336 K).
- Weak electron-phonon interaction, excluding s-wave superconductivity except possibly in distorted pseudohexagonal EuH9.
Conclusions:
- Anharmonic effects stabilize novel magnetic Eu superhydrides.
- Atomic radius significantly influences crystal structure distortions and thermodynamic stability.
- High-pressure synthesis opens avenues for new magnetic materials.
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