The Jahn-Teller active fluoroperovskites $A\mathrm{CrF_3}$ $A=\mathrm{Na^+},\mathrm{K^+}$: thermo- and magneto optical correlations as function of the $A$-site

Abstract

Chromium (II) fluoroperovskites $A\mathrm{CrF_3}(A\mathrm{=Na^+,K^+})$ are strongly correlated Jahn-Teller active materials at low temperatures. In this paper, we examine the role that the $A$-site ion plays in this family of fluoroperovskites using both experimental methods (XRD, optical absorption spectroscopy and magnetic fields) and DFT simulations. Temperature-dependent optical absorption experiments show that the spin-allowed transitions $E_2$ and $E_3$ only merge completely for $A$= Na at 2 K. Field-dependent optical absorption measurements at 2 K show that the oscillating strength of the spin-allowed transitions in $\mathrm{NaCrF_3}$ increases with increasing applied field. Direct magneto-structural correlations which suppress the spin-flip transitions are observed for ${\rm KCrF_3}$ below its Neél temperature. In ${\rm NaCrF_3}$ the spin-flip transitions vanish abruptly below 9 K revealing magneto-optical correlations not linked to crystal structure changes. This suggests that as the long range ordering is reduced local JT effects in the individual ${\rm CrF_6^{4-}}$ octahedra take control of the observed behavior. Our results show clear deviation from the pattern found for the isoelectronic $A_x{\rm MnF}_{3+x}$ system. The size of the $A$-site cation is shown to be central in dictating the physical properties and phase transitions in $A{\rm CrF}_3$, opening up the possibility of varying the composition to create novel states of matter with tuneable properties.