(Sr1-xNax)(Cd1-xMnx)2As2: A new charge and spin doping decoupled diluted magnetic semiconductors with CaAl2Si2-type structure

We report the synthesis and characterization of a new bulk diluted ferromagnetic semiconductor via Na and Mn co-doping in SrCd2As2 with a hexagonal CaAl2Si2-type structure. Together with carrier doping via (Sr,Na) substitution, spin doping via (Cd,Mn) substitution results in ferromagnetic order with Curie temperature of TC up to 13 K. Negative magnetoresistance is assigned to weak localization at low temperatures, where the magnetization of samples becomes saturated. The hexagonal structure of (Sr1−xNax)(Cd1−xMnx)2As2 can be acted as a promising candidate for spin manipulations owing to its relatively small coercive field of less than 24 Oe.