Synthesis and characterization of the novel antiferromagnet LaNiB 3 O 7
Here, we present the synthesis, structure, and magnetic properties of the novel borate LaNiB 3 O 7 - the first magnetically ordered compound reported in the CaAlB 3 O 7 structure type. This material is made of alternating sheets of corner-sharing borate tetrahedra and planes of La and Ni ions, with distorted nickel oxide [NiO 6 ] octahedra and lanthanum oxide [LaO 10 ] polyhedra. Temperature-dependent magnetic susceptibility data reveal dominantly antiferromagnetic interactions and an antiferromagnetic transition with a Neel temperature of 19 K, confirmed by specific heat data. The magnetic moment per nickel ion is 3.06 μ B . This compound uncovers a new family of rare-earth transition-metal borates to probe for magnetic interactions.