The ESR study of single crystal spinel ZnCr2Se4 diluted with Sb and V

The single crystal of Sb³⁺ and V³⁺ doped zinc chromium selenide spinel ZnCr₂Se₄ were prepared by a chemical transport method and characterized by ESR spectroscopy in order to examine the effect of nonmagnetic antimony and magnetic vanadium on properties of the system. For antimony admixtures the Neel temperature is very similar to that of the parent spinel ZnCr₂Se₄ (22 K). However, upon incorporating vanadium ions, the T_N temperature decreases down to 17.5 K, determined for the maximum vanadium content (x=0.06). The temperature dependence of the ESR linewidth over paramagnetic region is interpreted by an occurrence of spin-phonon interaction. The strong broadening linewidth together with its strong temperature dependence for vanadium doped ZnCr₂Se₄ is explained by the complex paramagnetic relaxation model.