Magnetizing lead-free halide double perovskites
Spintronics holds great potential for next-generation high-speed and low-power consumption information technology. Recently, lead halide perovskites (LHPs), which have gained great success in optoelectronics, also show interesting magnetic properties. However, the spin-related properties in LHPs originate from the spin-orbit coupling of Pb, limiting further development of these materials in spintronics. Here, we demonstrate a new generation of halide perovskites, by alloying magnetic elements into optoelectronic double perovskites, which provide rich chemical and structural diversities to host different magnetic elements. In our iron-alloyed double perovskite, Cs2Ag(Bi:Fe)Br-6, Fe3+ replaces Bi3+ and forms FeBr6 clusters that homogenously distribute throughout the double perovskite crystals. We observe a strong temperature-dependent magnetic response at temperatures below 30 K, which is tentatively attributed to a weak ferromagnetic or antiferromagnetic response from localized regions. We anticipate that this work will stimulate future efforts in exploring this simple yet efficient approach to develop new spintronic materials based on lead-free double perovskites. ; Funding Agencies|Knut and Alice Wallenberg FoundationKnut & Alice Wallenberg Foundation [KAW 2019.0082]; Swedish Energy AgencySwedish Energy Agency [2018004357, P43288-1]; Swedish Government Strategic Research Area in Materials Science on Functional Materials at Linkoping University [2009-00971]; Grant Agency of the Czech RepublicGrant Agency of the Czech Republic [GA19-05259S]; China Scholarship Council (CSC)China Scholarship Council; U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Basic Energy Sciences, Materials Sciences and Engineering DivisionUnited States Department of Energy (DOE); European CommunityEuropean Community (EC) [312284]; Czech Ministry of EducationMinistry of Education, Youth & Sports - Czech Republic [LM2015057]; CERIC users grant; International Synchrotron Access Program of the Australian Synchrotron