Competition between Cubic and Tetragonal Phase Induced Unusual Vertical Magnetization Shift and Exchange Bias in Co_xMn_3−xO₄ (1 ≤ x ≤ 2) Spinel Nanoparticles

Abstract

CoxMn3−xO4 (1 ≤ x ≤ 2) spinel nanoparticles synthesized through conventional coprecipitation technique exhibit the coexistence of tetragonal and cubic phases in the range of 1 ≤ x ≤ 1.5, while a pure cubic phase is observed for 1.75 ≤ x ≤ 2 at room temperature. Reduction in tetragonal phase fraction from 92 % for x = 1 to 47% for x = 1.5 is attributed to diminution of Jahn–Teller (J–T) active Mn3+ ions occupying the octahedral site of spinel lattice. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirms both +2 and +3 oxidation states for Co and Mn. Surprisingly, cubic and tetragonal phases exhibit magnetic transition, Tc1 and Tc2, corresponding to a paramagnetic to a high and low temperature ferrimagnetic state, respectively. Tetragonal phase induces high spontaneous (HSEB) and conventional (HCEB) exchange bias with unusually high vertical magnetization shift (VMS) than that of the pure cubic phase, shows maximum HCEB of 4.062 kOe for x = 1.5 and a VMS of 2.5 emu g−1 for x = 1. Such dependence of VMS and exchange bias on tetragonal to cubic phase ratio in CoxMn3−xO4 is demonstrated for the first time and interpreted based on the interaction between different arrangement of spins in tetrahedral and octahedral sublattice.