Crystal structure and magnetic properties of one-dimensional oxides Ca(3)AMnO(6) (A = Zn, Ni)

The structure of the one-dimensional complex oxide Ca3NiMnO6 (the structura l type of K4CdCl6, space group R(3)over barc, Z = 6) was refined by X-ray a nd neutron diffraction. For this compound and its zinc analogue, magnetic s usceptibility chi and magnetization were measured. The interatomic distance s in oxygen polyhedra were calculated. The Ni-O and Mn-O bond lengths (2.13 7 and 1.905 Angstrom, respectively) permit the conclusion that the 3d metal s in this phase occur as the cations Ni2+ and Mn4+. Ca3ZnMnO6 is isostructu ral with Ca3NiMnO6 and has similar unit cell dimensions. Both compounds are antiferromagnets with low Neel temperatures.