Coexistence of two different Cr ions by self-doping in half-metallic CrO2 nanorods.

We investigated the physical properties of Cr ions in half-metallic CrO(2) using 53Cr nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The 53Cr NMR spectra showed two peaks with a similar intensity instead of the single peak anticipated from a uniform single valence Cr(+4). Both Cr peaks exhibited a strong anisotropy in the hyperfine field and similar values in the enhancement factor and T2 relaxation time. These results suggest the coexistence of two different Cr ions (provisionally, Cr(+4 +/- 1/3)) by a self-doping effect, which is a likely origin of the metallic ferromagnetism in CrO(2).