Synthesis, Structure, and Physicochemical Characteristics of Zn_1-xRe_xCr₂Se₄ Single Crystals

This study aimed to obtain and investigate ZnCr₂Se₄ single crystals doped with rhenium. The single crystals were obtained by applying chemical vapour transport. An X-ray study confirmed the cubic (Fd3¯m) structure of the tested crystals. Thermal, magnetic, electrical, and specific heat measurements accurately determined the physicochemical characteristics, which revealed that the obtained single crystals are p-type semiconductors with antiferromagnetic order below the Néel temperature T_N = 21.7 K. The Debye temperature had a value of 295 K. The substitution of Re-paramagnetic ions, possessing a screened 5d-shell, in place of Zn-diamagnetic ions, caused an increase in the activation energy, Fermi energy, and Fermi temperature compared to the pure ZnCr₂Se₄. The boost of the dc magnetic field induced a shift of T_N towards lower temperatures and a spin fluctuation peak visible at H_dc = 40 and 50 kOe. The obtained single crystals are thermally stable up to 1100 °C.