Growth, characterization, and magnetic properties of a Li(Mn,Ni)PO4 single crystal

LiMn0.95Ni0.05PO4 single crystals have been grown for the first time by the travelling-solvent floating-zone method at low argon pressure. The grown sample exhibits large single crystalline grains as revealed by means of polarization microscopy, X-ray Laue back scattering, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The composition of the crystal was determined by Energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy. LiMn0.95Ni0.05PO4 orders in an orthorhombic olivine-like structure as expected and phase purity was confirmed by powder X-ray diffraction. An oriented cuboid with size of 2.4×2.5×2.7mm3 along a, b, and c crystalline directions, respectively, was used for anisotropic magnetic measurements. • Ni-doped LiMn0.95Ni0.05PO4 single crystals have been grown for the first time by the travelling-solvent floating-zone method at low Argon pressure. • Sharp magnetic transition is observed confirming the high crystallinity of the crystal. • Sharp spin-flop transition indicates that even 5% Ni-doping significantly reduceds the magnetic anisotropy field.