Evolving spin periodicity and lock-in transition in the frustrated ordered ilmentite-type β-Mn2InSbO6

Abstract

Polar magnets are promising materials for applications such as multiferroics or in spintronics. In double-corundum-related oxides, the cation ordering imposes a polar structure and the use of high pressure facilitates the insertion of magnetic cations into the compounds. Here we present the high-pressure synthesis of a polar and ferrimagnetic corundum derivative of Mn2⁢InSbO6, which adopts the ordered-ilmenite-type structure. Neutron powder diffraction reveals that the high-temperature nearly collinear ferrimagnetic phase evolves to an incommensurate helical structure with 𝑘𝛿=[00𝑘𝑧] propagation vector, which then locks to the commensurate value of 𝑘𝑧=1/8. This complex magnetic behavior is likely to be related to magnetic frustration and the polar nature of the ordered double-corundum structure.