Magnetic, electrical and structural properties of some ternary and quaternary spinels with chromium

Spinel compounds with the general formulas ACr 2X 4 and ACr 2− x B x X 4 (where A=Cd, Zn, Hg, Ga, Cu; X=S, Se, Te, O; B=Ga, In, Sb), including also substitution of two different cations in the tetrahedral subarray, exhibit different correlations of the magnetic and electrical properties. These properties are correlated with the ionic radii of cations and anions. The solid solutions of the boundary compounds reveal, e.g. correlations of metallic conductivity and a semiconductor–metal phase transition. In some spinel solid solutions the latter phase transition is accompanied by the magnetic phase transitions, i.e. either AF-F or Fi-F. Magnetic and electrical properties and their correlations in different spinel series with chromium are discussed in the frames of the phase diagram of the spinel-type compounds with chromium. Different mechanisms leading to the spin-glass state are discussed and illustrated.