Physicoсhemical Foundations of Modern Materials Science of Cadmium Arsenides (Review)

An analytical review of the transport and magnetic properties of manganese-doped cadmium arsenides and composites based on them, in which cadmium arsenides are used as a matrix with MnAs ferromagnet inclusions, is presented. Synthesis methods and the effect of manganese concentration in Cd3 – xMnxAs2 solid solutions on the stabilization of metastable phases of cadmium arsenide are considered. The results of investigations of phase equilibria in the ternary system CdAs2–Cd3As2–MnAs are presented, as well as double quasi-binary cuts CdAs2–Cd3As2, CdAs2–MnAs, and Cd3As2–MnAs. The effect of the number and size of ferromagnetic inclusions on the magnetic properties of composites in the Cd3As2–MnAs system is considered. The effect of MnAs on the temperature and magnetic dependences of the resistance in a composite of 80 mol % α''-Cd2.76Mn0.24As2 and 20 mol % MnAs is analyzed. It is noted that in the temperature range of 10–300 K and magnetic fields up to 8 T, a linear dependence of the resistance on temperature and magnetic field is observed. The high values of the magnetoresistance of composites are of practical interest for the development of temperature and magnetic field sensors.