The crystal structures of RbMnP2O7

Анотація

         The crystal and magnetic structures of RbMnP₂O₇have been determined. The crystal structure (a=7.3672(2), b=9.6782(2), c=8.6467(2)Å, β=105.488(1)⁰ space group P2₁/c, was determined from X-ray and neutron powder diffraction, and was found to be isostructural with RbFeP₂O₇. Magnetic susceptibility measurements showed that RbMnP₂O₇ behaves as a Curie-Weiss paramagnet at high temperatures and orders antiferromagnetically bellow a Neel temperature of 20K. From low temperature neutron diffraction, the magnetic structure was found to be commensurate with the nuclear cell, with a magnetic symmetry group P2_1¯/c.

Interestingly, this magnetic structure was found to consist of both antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic exchange interactions mediated through Mn-O-Mn-O pathways.