Crystal Structure and Magnetic Properties of the New Zn1.5Co1.5B7O13Br Boracite

TL;DR

This study reports the synthesis, crystal structure, and magnetic properties of a new Zn1.5Co1.5B7O13Br boracite, revealing ferrimagnetism below 16 K and potential metamagnetic behavior.

Contribution

The paper presents the first synthesis and detailed characterization of the new boracite Zn1.5Co1.5B7O13Br, including its crystal structure and magnetic properties.

Findings

Crystals have orthorhombic structure with specific lattice parameters.

Exhibits ferrimagnetism up to 16 K with Curie-Weiss behavior.

Shows magnetic irreversibility and possible metamagnetic transition.

Abstract

New Zn1.5Co1.5B7O13Br boracite crystals were grown by chemical transport reactions in quartz ampoules, at a temperature of 1173 K. The crystal structure was characterized by X-ray diffraction. The crystals present an orthorhombic structure with space group Pca21, (No. 29). The determined cell parameters were: a = 8.5705(3){\AA}, b = 8.5629(3) {\AA}, and c = 12.1198(4){\AA}, and cell volume, V = 889.45(5) {\AA}3 with Z = 4. Magnetic properties in single crystals of the new boracite, were determined. The Susceptibility-Temperature (X -T) behavior at different magnetic intensities was studied. The inverse of the magnetic susceptibility X-1(T) shows a Curie-Weiss characteristic with spin s = 3/2 and a small orbital contribution, l. At low temperatures, below 10 K, X(T) shows irreversibility that is strongly dependent on the applied magnetic field. This boracite is ferrimagnetic up to a maximum temperature of about 16 K, as shows the coercive field. The reduction of the irreversibility by the influence of the magnetic field, may be related to a metamagnetic phase transition.