Magnetic investigation of Mn ions in (Cd1−xMnx)Mn2O4 spinels

Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and static magnetic susceptibility measurements on (Cd1−xMnx)Mn2O4 samples with 0.03<x<0.5, characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) and with defined oxygen content, are reported to clarify the nature and amount of the Cd/Mn(II) cation substitution. The EPR results are in agreement with the existence of Cd1−xtMn(II)xtMn(III)2oO4 solid solution, where o and t refer to the octahedral and tetrahedral sites of the spinel structure. The EPR and magnetization techniques also allowed detecting the presence of spurious phases, like Cd2Mn3O8 and relating them to the sample preparation.