Magnetic order and magnetic properties of the oxygen deficient SmBaMn2O5 layered perovskite

• Published in: Materials research bulletin 2022-06, Vol.150, p.111780, Article 111780
• Main Authors: Blasco, J., Rodríguez-Velamazán, J.A., Subías, G., Sánchez, M.C., García-Muñoz, J.L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: A. oxides; B. crystal growth; B. magnetic properties; B. magnetic structure; D. crystal structure
• ISSN: 0025-5408; 1873-4227
• DOI: 10.1016/j.materresbull.2022.111780

•SmBaMn2O5 exhibits a checker board pattern of compressed and expanded MnO5 pyramids due to the condensation of a breathing mode.•The magnetic structure of SmBaMn2O5 has been determined thanks to the use of hot neutrons.•The magnetic structure is ferrimagnetic with the Mn moments align antiparallel along the c axis.•The polarization of Sm moments leads to a change in the direction of the easy magnetization axis below 10 K. Magnetism in SmBaMn2O5 was investigated on a single crystal by magnetic and neutron diffraction measurements. This is an oxygen deficient perovskite with a layered ordering of Sm and Ba cations. Mn atoms are coordinated with five oxygens forming a square pyramid and they are ordered in a checkerboard pattern of expanded-compressed pyramids in the ab-plane. The neutron diffraction study revealed a ferrimagnetic ordering of Mn moments below TN=134 K. Macroscopic measurements reveal a very anisotropic behavior. Measurements with the external magnetic field parallel (M||c) and perpendicular (M⊥c) to the c-axis confirm that this is the easy axis above 10 K. Below this temperature, the Sm sublattice begins to polarize and the magnetization M||c decreases while M⊥c experiences a huge increase. This indicates that Sm moments begin to order around 10 K in the ab-plane with a minor component on the c-axis that opposes the overall magnetization from Mn sublattices. [Display omitted]