Synthesis, crystal structure and properties of a lithium manganese nitride, (Li, Mn)2N

The grayish–black ternary nitride LixMn2−xN (x≈0.67) was prepared from lithium nitride, manganese powder and nitrogen. The phase adopts an anti-Rutile structural arrangement with lithium and manganese atoms disordered on one site: Space group P42/mnm (No. 136), a=4.68578(9) Å, c=2.97762(9) Å, Z=2. The electrical resistivity of a sintered pellet (ρ≈8.5·10−3 Ω cm at 250 K) increases slowly as the temperature is decreased (to about 1·10−2 Ω cm at 4 K). Magnetic susceptibility and solid state 6Li-NMR measurements suggest localized magnetic moments on the manganese atoms and probably an antiferromagnetic ordering at about 115 K.