Insights into the honeycomb ordered Li3(MnM)SbO6 (M(II) = Co, Ni, Zn, Mg) and Li3(CoMʹ)SbO6 (Mʹ(II) = Ni, Zn, Mg) oxides

The present study deals with the designing of new honeycomb layered oxides, Li3(MnM)SbO6 (M(II) = Co, Ni, Zn, Mg) and Li3(CoMʹ)SbO6 (Mʹ(II) = Ni, Zn, Mg) belonging to the monoclinic (S. G. C2/m) layered structural family. A cationic mixing of Li+ and Mn2+ is expected for the solid solution members, Li3(MnM)SbO6 (M(II) = Co, Ni, Zn, Mg) similar to Li3Mn2SbO6. Li3(CoMʹ)SbO6 (Mʹ(II) = Ni, Zn, Mg) oxides also synthesized through high temperature solid state methods, adopt monoclinic (S. G. C2/m) structures as confirmed by the profile fitting of the PXRD measurements. Notably, the formation of Li3(MnMg)SbO6 and Li3(CoMg)SbO6 is worth highlighting since Li3Mg2SbO6 and Li3Co2SbO6 are known in thermodynamically stable orthorhombic (S. G. Fddd) rock salt superstructures. Variable temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements of the Mn2+ based oxides register an antiferromagnetic (AFM) ordering at low temperatures (