Magnetic Phase Transitions in Intercalated Dichalcogenide Nanostructures

Nanostructured Mn-intercalated TaS$_{\mathrm{2}}$ was prepared with a nominal Mn concentration of 23.5{\%}. Powder x-ray diffraction confirms incorporation on Mn in the Van der Waals gaps between TaS$_{\mathrm{2}}$ layers. AC susceptibility measurements in a DC bias field indicate the sample displays paramagnetic behavior down to its Curie-Weiss temperature of 75 K. An Arrott plot confirms the transition to the ferromagnetic state, with critical exponent $\beta $ larger than expected for the Heisenberg 3D model. Further analysis of the AC susceptibility indicates a transition to cluster-glass state around 40 K, indicated by Vogel-Fulcher analysis near the transition temperature. We believe the difference from expected critical exponent values to be due to the proximity of the ferromagnetic and cluster-glass transitions.