Spin glass state in layered compound MnSb2Te4

TL;DR

This study reports the synthesis and characterization of MnSb2Te4, revealing a spin glass state below 24 K, magnetic competition, and anomalous Hall effect, offering new insights into its magnetic and topological properties.

Contribution

It is the first detailed investigation of the magnetic and transport properties of MnSb2Te4, highlighting its spin glass behavior and potential for quantum physics applications.

Findings

MnSb2Te4 exhibits a spin glass state below 24 K.

Magnetic and antiferromagnetic competition observed in MnSb2Te4.

Anomalous Hall effect demonstrated, indicating p-type conductivity.

Abstract

As a sister compound and isostructural of MnBi2Te4, the high quality MnSb2Te4 single crystals are grown via solid-state reaction where prolonged annealing and narrow temperature window play critical roles on account of its thermal metastability. X-ray diffraction analysis on MnSb2Te4 single crystals reveals pronounced cation intermixing, 28.9(7)% Sb antisite defects on the Mn (3a) site and 19.3(6)% Mn antisite defects on the Sb (6c) site, compared with MnBi2Te4. Unlike antiferromagnetic (AFM) nature MnBi2Te4, MnSb2Te4 contains magnetic and antiferromagnetic competition and exhibits a spin glass (SG) state below 24 K. Its magnetic hysteresis, anisotropy, and relaxation process are investigated in detail with DC and AC magnetization measurements. Moreover, anomalous Hall effect as a p-type conductor is demonstrated through transport measurements. This work grants MnSb2Te4 a possible access to the future exploration of exotic quantum physics by removing the odd/even layer number restraint in intrinsic AFM MnBi2Te4-family materials as a result of the crossover between its magnetism and potential topology in the Sb-Te layer.