Realization of La2MnVO6: search for half-metallic antiferromagnetism?

Single-phase polycrystalline La2MnVO6 samples were synthesized by arc-melting and characterized by X-ray diffraction, magnetization and resistivity measurements. We find that the compound has cubic (space group Fm3̄m), partly ordered double perovskite structure. The sample exhibits ferrimagnetic behavior and variable-range hopping conductivity. We conclude based on the magnetic properties that both Mn and V ions are trivalent; moreover, the Mn3+ ions are in a high spin state, which is the reason that the compound is not a half-metallic antiferromagnet.