Influence of the manganese substitution on the cation distribution and magnetic structure of the spinel-related LiFe1-xMn1 + xO4 (x = 0.00, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75) system

• Published in: Hyperfine interactions 2019, Vol.240 (1), p.1-13, Article 19
• Main Authors: Gracia, M., Gancedo, J. R., Gautier, J. L., de la Figuera, J., Marco, J. F.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 18-23 November 2018; Atomic; Cations; Chile; Composition; Condensed Matter Physics; Crystal structure; Hadrons; Heavy Ions; Lithium; Magnetic properties; Magnetic structure; Manganese; Molecular; Nuclear Physics; Occupancy; Optical and Plasma Physics; Oxidation; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Proceedings of the 16th Latin American Conference on the Applications of the Mössbauer Effect (LACAME 2018); Santiago de Chile; Spinel; Surfaces and Interfaces; Synthesis; Thermal decomposition; Thin Films
• ISSN: 0304-3843; 1572-9540
• DOI: 10.1007/s10751-019-1557-z

We report a modified synthesis for lithium manganese ferrites LiFe 1-x Mn 1 + x O 4 (x = 0.00, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75) based on the thermal decomposition of nitrates which produces purer materials when compared to other synthesis methods. The different oxidation states of the various cations and their preferences for particular crystal sites within the spinel-related structure lead to a complex cation distribution and magnetic properties which depend strongly on the composition. The large, almost complete, lithium occupancy of the tetrahedral sites in the spinel structure for particular compositions and the concomitant occurrence of unusual oxidation states of iron show how the synthesis method can be tailored to obtain materials which can have promising applications in the field of lithium-containing batteries.