Structure and magnetic properties of Sn1-xMnxO2

The microstructure and magnetic properties have been investigated systematically for Sn1-xMnxO2 polycrystalline powder samples with x=0.02-0.08 synthesized by a solid-state reaction method. X-ray diffraction revealed that all samples are pure rutile-type tetragonal phase and the cell parameters a and c decrease monotonously with the increase in Mn content, which indicated that Mn ions substitute into the lattice of SnO2. Magnetic measurements revealed that all samples exhibit room temperature ferromagnetism. Furthermore, magnetic investigations demonstrate that magnetic properties strongly depend on doping content, x. The average magnetic moment per Mn atom decreases with increase in the Mn content, because antiferromagnetic super-exchange interaction takes place within the neighbor Mn3+ ions through O2- ions for the samples with higher Mn doping. Our results indicate that the ferromagnetic property is intrinsic to the SnO2 system and is not a result of any secondary magnetic phase or cluster formation. - Highlights: → Sn1-xMnxO2 polycrystalline powder samples were prepared by solid state reaction method. → The microstructure and magnetic properties have been investigated. → Magnetic properties depend on doping content (x), The ferromagnetic property is intrinsic to the SnO2 system.