English

Stoichiometry and Phase Control in K$_{1-x}$CrSe$_2$ via Self-Flux Synthesis

Materials Science 2025-11-18 v1 Strongly Correlated Electrons

Abstract

Layered delafossite-type magnetic materials, such as KCrSe2_2, are promising platforms for studying magnetic systems and potential frustration on triangular lattices. Synthesis, structure-type control, and off-stoichiometries remain major challenges in the investigation of these delafossite-type magnets. Starting from the same self-flux composition (K:Cr:Se = 8:1:8), we isolated three distinct K1x_{1-x}CrSe2_2 phases with xx = 0, 0.13--0.17, and 0.32--0.35, each adopting a different structure type depending on the quenching temperature applied. The phase evolution indicates a sequence of transformations during synthesis between compounds with varying degrees of potassium deficiency. Building on these insights into phase stability and crystal growth, we successfully grew single crystals of full-stoichiometric KCrSe2_2 -- enabling direction-dependent magnetization measurements. These measurements reveal a pronounced field dependence of the N\'{e}el temperature at low external fields, as well as a weak metamagnetic transition. Our findings demonstrate that even a simple parameter -- such as quenching temperature -- can be used to control stoichiometry, direct phase formation, and ultimately tune the magnetic properties of delafossite-type materials.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2511.12338,
  title  = {Stoichiometry and Phase Control in K$_{1-x}$CrSe$_2$ via Self-Flux Synthesis},
  author = {Felix Eder and Catherine Witteveen and Enrico Giannini and Fabian O. von Rohr},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2511.12338},
  year   = {2025}
}