Magnetic properties of ferrimagnetic Mn3Si2Se6

Abstract

The physical properties of Mn3Si2Se6 have been investigated using single crystals grown by iodine-assisted vapor transport. The material possesses a ferrimagnetic ground state and the properties are similar to those in the isostructural compound Mn3Si2Te6. In these trigonal materials, the dominant magnetic exchanges are antiferromagnetic and intrinsically frustrated, leading to a variety of competing ground states. In Mn3Si2Se6, the Curie temperature is TC = 67(1)K, which is slightly lower than that of Mn3Si2Te6 where TC = 78K. The anisotropy field is also smaller in the selenide relative to the telluride. In both materials, short-range correlations likely exist well-above TC. Neutron single crystal diffraction data on Mn3Si2Se6 suggest a collinear ferrimagnetic structure with the moments tilting out of the ab-plane in zero-field. Finally, the magnetization of vapor grown Mn3Si2Te6 is shown for comparison; these vapor grown crystals do not show a sharp onset of magnetic anisotropy above 300K as was previously observed for melt grown Mn3Si2Te6 crystals.