The magnetic properties of the site ordered multicomponent vanadate Mg 3 Fe 4 ͑VO 4 ͒ 6 are studied using dc magnetization and electron paramagnetic resonance ͑EPR͒ measurements. The static susceptibility shows antiferromagnetic interactions between Fe 3+ spins with a Curie-Weiss temperature ⌰ = −111͑1͒ K, while a transition to a spin-glass-like state is observed at T Ϸ 8.5 K, indicating appreciable spin frustration. EPR measurements corroborate the presence of antiferromagnetically coupled Fe 3+ spins from high temperatures, while a distinct change in the temperature variation of the EPR parameters is observed at T Ͻ 80 K, complying with the mean-field energy scale provided by the Curie-Weiss temperature of the system. The resulting magnetic inhomogeneity that persists despite the absence of cation disorder between magnetic and diamagnetic metal ions is attributed to the presence of small amounts of oxygen deficiency that modifies the connectivity and superexchange coupling between Fe 3+ spins and leads to a disordered magnetic ground state.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.