Single crystal EPR investigation on Mn(II) doped biomineral: cobalt potassium phosphate hexahydrate

Single crystal EPR study of Mn(II) doped in cobalt potassium phosphate hexahydrate has been carried out at room temperature. The impurity shows a 30 line pattern EPR spectra along a particular crystallographic axis suggesting the existence of only one type of impurity in place of Co(II) ion in the host lattice. The spin Hamiltonian parameters have been estimated as: g11=2.011, g22=1.998, g33=1.991, and A11=−8.9, A22=−8.8, A33=−8.4 mT and D11=−15.2, D22=−9.4, D33=24.6 mT, respectively. The sign of A is designated as negative and D as positive. The covalency of metal-oxygen bond has been estimated. The relaxation times, calculated as a function of temperature, indicate spin-lattice relaxation narrowing at room temperature.