Synthesis, characterization and magnetism of novel Cobalt-akermanite: Ca2CoSi2O7

Polycrystalline sample of novel Cobalt-akermanite: Ca2CoSi2O7 was synthesized using solid state reaction method. Room temperature powder X-ray diffraction and dc-electrical conductivity studies confirmed good quality of the synthesized sample in single phase tetragonal structure with space group: P (4) over bar2(1)m. Low value of activation energy estimated from the dc-conductivity study indicates insulating behavior of this compound. Magnetic study showed a paramagnetic nature of Ca2CoSi2O7 at room temperature and antiferromagnetic nature below T-N=5.6 K. In this compound weak ferromagnetism co-exist with antiferromagnetism below Neel temperature. Ca2CoSi2O7 displays magnetic field induced weak ferromagnetic transition around 7.4 K. Antiferromagnetic interactions occurs between the nearest neighbor Co2+ ions, as indicated by the negative sign of Weiss constant, theta(P)=-22.7 K. Estimated value of the effective magnetic moment, mu(eff) = 4.75 mu(B) is found to be larger than the spin-only value of magnetic moment of Co2+ ion in the tetrahedral coordination having three unpaired electrons. These results, suggest that the orbital contribution to magnetic moment in this compound cannot be neglected and the electric polarization through spin dependent p-d hybridization can be expected in Ca2CoSi2O7.