In this study, we identify EuCd2X2 (for X = P, As, Sb) as a series of magnetic semiconductors. We examine how the band gap of the series responds to X changing from phosphorus (P), to arsenic (As), and finally antimony (Sb). We characterize the samples using electronic transport and magnetization measurements. Based on infrared spectroscopy, we find that the band gap reduces progressively from 1.23 eV in EuCd2P2, to 0.77 eV in EuCd2As2, and finally 0.52 eV in EuCd2Sb2. In a magnetic field, all three systems show a strong response and their band gaps decrease at 4 K. This decrease is non-monotonic as we change X. It is strongest in the phosphorous compound and weakest in the antimony compound. For all the three compositions, EuCd2X2 remains a semiconductor up to the highest magnetic field applied (16 T).
@article{arxiv.2409.18722,
title = {Magneto-optical response of magnetic semiconductors EuCd2X2 (X= P, As, Sb)},
author = {S. Nasrallah and D. Santos-Cottin and F. Le Mardele and I. Mohelsky and J. Wyzula and L. Aksamovic and P. Sacer and J. W. H. Barrett and W. Galloway and K. Rigaux and F. Guo and M. Puppin and I. Zivkovic and J. H. Dil and M. Novak and N. Barisic and C. C. Homes and M. Orlita and Ana Akrap},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2409.18722},
year = {2024}
}