Room temperature ferromagnetism in novel magnetic semiconductors based on II–IV–V2 chalcopyrite compounds

Novel magnetic semiconductor compounds in the ternary system II–IV–V 2 with the 3d transition element Mn have been prepared. The use of alternative growth methods for CdGeP 2 –Mn and ZnGeP 2 –Mn quasi-binary systems proved the existence of material in both polycrystalline and single crystal forms. The prepared compounds share the chalcopyrite crystal structure and reveal ferromagnetic behavior over a wide temperature range. The Curie temperature has been measured for CdMnGeP 2 as 320 K (single crystal) and 310 K (polycrystalline bulk).