Crystal growth of magnetic dihydride GdxY1−xH2 for generation of spin current

Abstract Crystal growth of pure phases of Gd x Y 1− x H 2 ( 0 ≤ x ≤ 1 ) was successfully carried out by depositing Gd x Y 1− x films and their hydrogenation, the growth results of which were investigated by X-ray diffraction measurements as well as temperature ( T ) dependence of magnetic susceptibility ( χ ). The fcc lattice constant in Gd x Y 1− x H 2 is found to be linearly increased with increasing x . Behavior characteristic to the para-to-antiferromagnetic transition are clearly observed in the χ – T curve for x =0.39, 0.47, 0.76, and 1.0 cases. The Neel temperature ( T N ) is found to be linearly decreased with decreasing x from x =1.0 (GdH 2 ), and is predicted to show T N = 0 K at x ∼ 0.1 by extrapolating T N from large x region, implying the antiferromagnetic order disappears at x ∼ 0.1 . The quasi-zero Hall effect was observed for x =0, 0.19, 0.37, 0.39, and 0.47 cases, whereas a moderate Hall effect is observed for x =0.76 and 1.0 cases. The type of Hall effect is also discussed.