Cation distribution and crystallographic properties of the quaternary spinel compound Zn0.4Cu0.6AlxFe2-xO4 (0.0 <= x <= 1.0)

Journal article, 2008

The spinel system Zn(0.4)Cu(0.6)Al(x)Fe(2-x)O4 with x = 0.0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 & 1.0 were obtained by solid state reactions in air at 1373 K. X-ray and neutron powder diffraction measurements were performed at room temperature (RT) to characterize the materials. Rietveld refinement of neutron diffraction data showed cubic symmetry corresponding to the space group Fd3m. The distribution of cations over the two sublattices and other crystallographic parameters were determined precisely. The cell parameter decreases and oxygen parameter increases with increasing Al. Sublattices and net magnetic moments at RT were also deduced from the analysis of neutron data. The magnetic structure at RT was found to be ferrimagnetic for x <= 0.75.