Magnetic Order and Magnetic Inhomogeneities in SnCrTe-PbCrTe Solid Solutions

We present the studies of structural, electrical and magnetic properties of bulk $Sn_{1-x-y}Pb_xCr_yTe$ mixed crystals with chemical composition 0.18 ≤ x ≤ 0.35 and 0.007 ≤ y ≤ 0.071. The magnetometric studies indicate that for the high Cr-content, y=0.071, the alloy shows ferromagnetic alignment with the Curie temperature, $T_{C}$, around 265 K. The $Cr_5Te_8$ clusters are responsible for the ferromagnetic order. At low Cr content, y ≈ 0.01, a peak in the ac magnetic susceptibility identified as the cluster-glass-like transition is observed at a temperature about 130 K. The cluster-glass-like transition is likely due to the presence of $Cr_2Te_3$ clusters in the samples with y ≈ 0.01. The transport characterization of the samples indicated strong metallic p-type conductivity with relatively high carrier concentration, n > $10^{20}$ $cm^{-3}$, and carrier mobility, μ > 150 $cm^2$/(V s).