Enhancement of electrical conductivity to metallization of MnFeO spinel and postspinel with elevating pressure

Yamanaka, Takamitsu*; Rahman, S.*; Nakamoto, Yuki*; Hattori, Takanori   ; Jang, B. G.*; Kim, D. Y.*; Mao, H.-K.*

High-pressure neutron diffraction proved that MnFeO and MnFeO spinels transform into CaMnO-type structure above 18 GPa and 14 GPa, respectively. The transition pressure of MnFeO solutions decreases with increasing Mn content. Synchrotron X-ray Mssbauer experiments revealed that Fe and Fe distribution at the tetrahedral (A) and octahedral (B) sites in the spinel structure changes with pressure. MnFeO and MnFeO spinels are ferrimagnetic and the CaMnO-type phase is paramagnetic. The temperature dependence of resistivity indicates that both spinels are semiconductors wherein electrons hop between cations at the A and B sites. A pressure-induced shortening of B-B distance promoted conduction via greater electron mobility between adjacent B cations. The Fe and Fe occupancies at the B sites in MnFeO are much larger than those in MnFeO. The CaMnO-type phase is metallic. Theoretical calculation confirmed the metallic character and Fe d-orbitals strongly renormalized compared to Mn d-orbitals.