The homometallic warwickite V2OBO3

The synthesis, structure and elementary magnetic characterization of the homometallic warwickite V2OBO3 are reported. The material adopts the orthorhombic warwickite structure type at room temperature, space group Pnma (No. 62) with lattice parameters a = 9.2317(1) A, b = 3.1172(1) A, and c = 9.5313(1) A. Temperature-dependent magnetic susceptibility, electrical resistivity, and specific heat measurements show anomalies near 35 K, between 135 K and 150 K, and near 260 K, with the transition at ~ 35 K likely to a ferrimagnetic state. High resolution synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction data at temperatures between 295 K and 90 K display significant peak splitting upon cooling, indicating that at least one crystallographic symmetry change occurs at low temperatures.