Magnetic properties of the mixed-valence manganese oxide Pb ₃Mn₇O₁₅

A Pb₃Mn₇O₁₅ single crystal has been grown by the flux method and studied using x-ray diffraction and magnetization measurements. The crystal is hexagonal (P6₃/mcm space group, Z = 4) and exhibits a pronounced layered nature. Along the [001] direction (c axis), the structure consists of layers of edge-sharing MnO₆ octahedra. Pairs of Mn atoms occupy the octahedral sites located between layers forming 'bridges' along the c axis, which link neighboring Mn layers. The magnetic properties of the crystal have been investigated using ac and dc magnetization measurements in the temperature range 2-900 K at magnetic fields up to 90 kOe. The experimental data obtained suggest that in the temperature region under study several different magnetic phases can be distinguished. Down to ∼250 K, the crystal is in the paramagnetic state. Below this temperature, short-range antiferromagnetic ordering apparently starts forming within Mn layers, although a transition to long-range magnetic order occurs at 70 K. The magnetization data obtained leads us to conclude that this state is canted antiferromagnetic with moments lying in the basal plane of the crystal. In addition, below 20 K the crystal undergoes one more magnetic transition that corresponds to spin reorientation.