Preparation and physical properties of CuAl1−xMnxO2 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.2) delafossites

The formation of a CuAl1−xMnxO2 solid solution for a limited range of x values (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.2) is demonstrated. The samples were synthesized by solid state reactions in silica sealed tubes. They crystallize with the 3R delafossite structure (space group R3¯m). Magnetic studies show that Mn3+ ions are in the HS state and that the predominant interactions are antiferromagnetic. The oxides are semiconductors with an activation energy decreasing with x.

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