Magnetic Properties of the Spinel SnCo2O4

The compound SnCo2O4 is an inverted IV-II spinel with the Co ions equally distributed among the octahedral and tetrahedral sites. The Sn ions occupy the remaining octahedral sites. This compound was previously thought to order as a Nèel p-type ferrimagnet with the residual magnetization of 1 x 10-2 µB per Co2+ ion. This paper extends the magnetic measurements to ZFC and FC data at low temperatures and low applied magnetic field. Magnetic measurements on the SnCo2O4 single crystals gown by the flux method suggest a re-entrant ferrimagnetic behaviour at low temperature. Suggestions are made for the origin of canting.