Spin-glass like magnetic ordering in Ge1-x-y(SnxMny)Te multiferroics

Abstract Diluted magnetic semiconductor (DMSs) multiferroics offer intriguing possibilities and potential for spintronic applications due to the incorporation of magnetic ions in semiconducting lattice. Ferroelectric α-GeTe based multiferroics doped with a magnetic element provide an appropriate playground to explore entanglement of magnetic order and spin–orbit coupling in one system. In this work, we present systematic studies of ferroelectric GeTe based Ge1-x-y(SnxMny)Te crystals grown in the range 0.182 ≤ x ≤ 0.184 and 0.027 ≤ y ≤ 0.061, focused over their magnetic, magnetotransport and ferroelectric properties. Here we report Ge1-x-y(SnxMny)Te multiferroic and the studies of dominant magnetic exchange interactions. The ferroelectric phase transition was examined as a function of the chemical composition of Sn and Mn concentration. The different magnetometric methods revealed that Ge1-x-y(Sn0.183Mn0.047)Te crystal exhibits a spin-glass like magnetic ordering at a freezing temperature (TF) of about 5.3 K. Similar to the χAC(T) cusp, the spin-glass like crystal displays an anomaly in coercivity near its freezing temperature. The carrier concentration as function of temperature demonstrated anomalous Hall effect (AHE), consistent with the low temperature magnetically ordered state in the studied crystals.