Magnetic and structural properties of NaLnMnWO6 and NaLnMgWO6 perovskites

We have prepared 14 new AA′BB′O₆ perovskites which possess a rock salt ordering of the B-site cations and a layered ordering of the A-site cations. The compositions obtained are NaLnMnWO₆ (Ln=Ce, Pr, Sm, Gd, Dy, and Ho) and NaLnMgWO₆ (Ln=Ce, Pr, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, and Ho). The samples were structurally characterized by powder X-ray diffraction which has revealed metrically tetragonal lattice parameters for compositions with Ln=Ce, Pr and monoclinic symmetry for compositions with smaller lanthanides. Magnetic susceptibility vs. temperature measurements have found that all six NaLnMnWO₆ compounds undergo antiferromagnetic ordering at temperatures between 10 and 13 K. Several compounds show signs of a second magnetic phase transition. One sample, NaPrMnWO₆, appears to pass through at least three magnetic phase transitions within a narrow temperature range. All eight NaLnMgWO₆ compounds remain paramagnetic down to 2 K revealing that the ordering of the Ln³⁺ cations in the NaLnMnWO₆ compounds is induced by the ordering of the Mn²⁺ sub-lattice.