Magnetic behavior of the LiFeTiO4 spinel

The LiFeTiO4 spinel obtained by the "liquid mix" technique has been studied by neutron powder diffraction, ac and dc magnetic susceptibility, and magnetization measurements. The cationic distribution in the tetrahedral (A) and octahedral (B) sites was determined to be (Li0.47Fe0.53)(A)(Li0.53Fe0.47Ti)(B)O-4. The dc magnetic susceptibility measurements show two maxima at 29 and 282 K (at H = 1000 Oe) and a Curie-Weiss behavior is not observed in the temperature range 282-800 K. Neutron diffraction patterns shows that the B-site magnetic moments at 2 K temperature are lower than those expected for a collinear arrangement of spins. Careful analyses of the low-temperature neutron diffraction patterns of this material suggest a localized canting of spins (LCS) type of magnetic ordering where a long-range order (LRO) of longitudinal component of moments coexists along with a totally disordered transverse component of moments. The conclusion is also supported by the features seen in complementary magnetic measurements.