Rare-Earth Borides

This book provides a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of the research on rare-earth borides, covering their crystal chemistry, thin-film and crystal growth, physical properties, and magnetic behavior. It includes reviews of structural and thermodynamic properties, electronic properties, and lattice and electron dynamical properties. The book also discusses the theory of multipolar excitations in rare-earth borides and features a contribution on the electronic properties of the Kondo insulator SmB6.

Format: Hardback
Length: 894 pages
Publication date: 25 October 2021
Publisher: Jenny Stanford Publishing

Rare-earth borides are a class of materials that have garnered significant attention in recent years due to their unique physical properties and potential applications in various fields. These compounds, consisting of elements from the rare-earth family, exhibit a wide range of behaviors, including magnetic, electronic, and structural properties. In this comprehensive review, we will explore the crystal chemistry, thin-film and crystal growth, and various physical properties of rare-earth borides.

Structural and Thermodynamic Properties:

Rare-earth borides exhibit a diverse range of structures, including cubic, hexagonal, and orthorhombic phases. The crystal structures of these materials are influenced by factors such as composition, pressure, and temperature. Understanding the structural properties of rare-earth borides is crucial for predicting their physical and chemical behaviors. Thermodynamic properties, such as enthalpy, entropy, and free energy, play a vital role in understanding the stability and reactivity of rare-earth borides. These properties are determined by analyzing the energy changes associated with phase transitions, chemical reactions, and magnetic ordering.

Electronic Properties in the Bulk and at the Surface:

Rare-earth borides exhibit a rich variety of electronic properties, which are influenced by their crystal structures, chemical compositions, and external factors. Electronic properties in the bulk include band structures, density of states, and electronic excitations. At the surface, electronic properties are influenced by surface states, adsorption, and electronic interactions with the environment. Understanding the electronic properties of rare-earth borides is important for developing new electronic devices, such as sensors, transistors, and magnetic materials.

Magnetic Behavior at Low Temperatures:

Magnetic behavior is a fundamental property of rare-earth borides, particularly at low temperatures. These materials exhibit a complex interplay between magnetic ordering, spin-orbit coupling, and electron-electron interactions. Magnetic behavior at low temperatures is important for applications in magnetic storage, spintronics, and magnetic materials. Understanding the magnetic dynamics of rare-earth borides is crucial for developing new magnetic materials with enhanced properties.

Crystal-Growth Methods and their Influence on Quality:

Single-crystalline rare-earth borides are of paramount importance for their applications in electronic devices and magnetic materials. Crystal-growth methods play a crucial role in determining the quality of these materials. Different growth methods, such as vapor-phase deposition, solution-phase synthesis, and physical vapor deposition, have their advantages and disadvantages. Understanding the influence of crystal-growth methods on the structural, electronic, and magnetic properties of rare-earth borides is essential for developing high-quality single-crystalline samples.

Lattice and Electron Dynamical Properties:

Rare-earth borides exhibit a rich variety of lattice and electron dynamical properties, which are influenced by their crystal structures, chemical compositions, and external factors. Raman scattering, inelastic neutron scattering, and x-ray spectroscopy are powerful tools for studying the lattice and electron dynamical properties of rare-earth borides. These techniques provide information about the vibrational modes, density of states, and electronic excitations of these materials. Understanding the lattice and electron dynamical properties of rare-earth borides is important for developing new materials with enhanced properties.

Theory of Multipolar Excitations in Rare-Earth Borides:

Multipolar excitations are a fundamental phenomenon in rare-earth borides, particularly in systems with heavy f-electrons. These excitations involve the collective motion of electrons and the distortion of the crystal lattice. Understanding the theory of multipolar excitations in rare-earth borides is crucial for developing new materials with enhanced properties, such as high-temperature superconductivity and magnetic materials.

Electronic Properties of the Kondo Insulator SmB6:

SmB6 is a Kondo insulator that has received significant attention in recent years due to its intensely debated topological electronic properties. This material exhibits a unique combination of magnetic and electronic properties, which make it a promising candidate for applications in spintronics and quantum computing. Understanding the electronic properties of SmB6 is important for developing new materials with enhanced properties and for exploring the fundamental properties of topological materials.

Conclusion:

Rare-earth borides are a class of materials with unique physical properties and potential applications in various fields. In this comprehensive review, we have explored the crystal chemistry, thin-film and crystal growth, and various physical properties of rare-earth borides. We have discussed the structural and thermodynamic properties of these materials, including their crystal structures, enthalpy, entropy, and free energy. We have also discussed the electronic properties in the bulk and at the surface, including band structures, density of states, and electronic excitations. Additionally, we have explored the magnetic behavior at low temperatures, including magnetic ordering, spin-orbit coupling, and electron-electron interactions. We have also discussed the theory of multipolar excitations in rare-earth borides and the electronic properties of the Kondo insulator SmB6. Finally, we have highlighted the importance of crystal-growth methods and their influence on the quality of single-crystalline rare-earth borides. By understanding the properties and behaviors of rare-earth borides, we can develop new materials with enhanced properties and contribute to the advancement of various fields, such as electronics, magnetic materials, and energy storage.

Weight: 1842g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9789814877565