Structural and electronic behaviors of YBa₂(Fe_1-xMn_x)₃O_8+δ

In this work, the synthesis, structural, electrical and magnetic characterization of the set of polycrystalline samples: YBa₂(Fe_1-xMn_x)₃O_8+δ, with
x = 0, 0.025, 0.05, 0.10 and 0.15 are reported. From the structural point of view, it was found that Mn doping generates a decrease in cell volume which is related to an oxidation state different from Mn³⁺ as corroborated by XPS analysis. On the other hand, the magnetic behavior of the YBa₂Fe₃O_8+δ, system presents a weak ferromagnetic transition around 16 K. Doping with Mn, results in a considerably decrease of the magnetic transition temperature. Oxygen content slightly decreases under Ti doping, but it seems not to be related to magnetic changes. Instead magnetic behavior is routed to changes in the oxidation state of Mn ion.