Crystal growth and magnetic properties of spinel (Co,Mn)(3)O-4

Abstract

Single crystals of cubic and tetragonal spinel Co3-xMnxO4 (x=1.0 and 1.5) were successfully grown using a solvent evaporation method with PbF2 flux. Single crystals in octahedral shape with a size of about 4 mm on edge were obtained from 100 cm(3) Pt crucibles. Ferrimagnetic transitions were detected at 170 K and 160 K from the measurements of temperature dependent magnetization and specific heat of Co(2)Mna(4) and Co1.5Mn1.5O4, respectively. Low temperature field-dependent magnetization curves give a strong indication of the non-collinear spin structure, offering an insulating Co3-xMnxO4 system as a possible candidate for examining the multiferroicity. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.