Uniaxial anisotropy and low-temperature antiferromagnetism of Mn2BO4 single crystal

• Single-crystalline samples of Mn2BO4 of high quality were grown. The charge ordering oftype Mn2+(1)-Mn3+(2) was found.
• The intrinsic antiferromagnetic transition at TN=26 K was observed through the magnetization and specific heat measurements.
• An uniaxial magnetic anisotropy with easy axis of magnetization lying in ab-plane was found.
• The superexchange interactions were calculated and the magnetic frustration was found.

The Mn2BO4 single crystals have been grown by the flux technique. A careful study of the crystal structure and magnetic properties have been carried out. The antiferromagnetic transition at TN=26 K has been traced through the dc magnetization and specific heat temperature dependences. Magnetic uniaxial anisotropy has been found with easy axis magnetization lying in the ab-plane. The obtained value of effective magnetic moment is assigned to the non-quenched orbital moment of Jahn–Teller Mn3+ ions. The discussion of magnetic properties is based on the superexchange interaction calculations.