Experimental and theoretical investigation of the electronic, magnetic, and optical properties of a new oxyphosphate, Ni0.25Mn0.25TiO(PO4)

The structural, magnetic, and optical properties of a new oxyphosphate, Ni0.25Mn0.25TiOPO4, have been investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, magnetic FC-ZFC measurements, and vibrational spectroscopy (Raman, IR, WDS, and UV/visible). XRD analysis showed that the compound crystallizes in a monoclinic structure, space group P21/c, with unit cell parameters of a = 7.3758(2) Å, b = 7.3255(2) Å, c = 7.3448(2) Å, and β = 120.25(2)°. Elemental analysis of the powder confirmed the presence of Ni, Mn, Ti, and P therein. Raman and IR spectra show strong bands at 749 and 787 cm−1, respectively, attributable to the vibration of –Ti–O–Ti–O– bonds in infinite chains. Magnetic studies have been performed in the temperature range from 2 to 300 K. The results revealed a weak antiferromagnetic coupling between spins in Ni0.25Mn0.25TiOPO4. The band-gap energy was estimated as Eg = 1.99 eV based on UV/Vis spectrophotometry. To better understand the experimental data, density functional theory (DFT) computations were performed within the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) and GGA + U. The partial density of states (PDOS) shows strong hybridization between O 2p, Mn 3d, and Ni 3d in the valence band and between Mn 3d, Ni 3d, and Ti 3d in the conduction band.