AUTHOR=Li Hui , Cui Siwen , Huang Yi , Zhao Yongsheng , Zhu Pinwen , Ma Shuailing 

TITLE=Investigating the exotic magnetic properties in manganese diboride, a borophene intercalation compound

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Physics

VOLUME=12

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/physics/articles/10.3389/fphy.2024.1370841

DOI=10.3389/fphy.2024.1370841

ISSN=2296-424X

ABSTRACT=<p>The temperature-dependent magnetic susceptibility combined with first-principle calculations was conducted to unravel the magnetic structure and the magnetic interaction of the laminar structure of manganese diboride (MnB<sub>2</sub>). MnB<sub>2</sub> showed weak ferromagnetic, antiferromagnetic, and paramagnetic behavior with increased temperature. Its weak ferromagnetic property below 135.6 K Curie temperature (T<sub>C</sub>) originated from the spin canting antiferromagnetic magnetic structure. The exotic kink of temperature-dependent magnetic susceptibility at 330 K Néel temperature (T<sub>N</sub>) correlated with the transition from antiferromagnetic to paramagnetic structure. First-principle calculation show that the antiferromagnetic ordering show lower energy, and suggest a canting anti-ferromagnetic ordering for its ferromagnetic behavior. The peculiar magnetic behavior of MnB<sub>2</sub> may be due to the insertion of the honeycomb boron layers into the host matrix of manganese atoms. The honeycomb boron layers played a key role in the exchange between two manganese layers. This study resolved the longstanding puzzle of the magnetic structure of MnB<sub>2</sub> and provided a typical laminar magnetic structure prototype.</p>