EPR spectra of Fe3+ centers in layered TlGaSe2 single crystal

A single-crystal TlGaSe2 doped by paramagnetic Fe ions has been studied at room temperature by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) technique. The fine structure of EPR spectra of paramagnetic Fe3+ ions was observed. The spectra were interpreted to correspond to the transitions among spin multiplet (S=5/2, L=0) of Fe3+ ion, which are splitted by the local ligand crystal field (CF) of orthorhombic symmetry. Four equivalent Fe3+ centers have been observed in the EPR spectra and the local symmetry of crystal field at the Fe3+ site and CF parameters were determined. Experimental results indicate that the Fe ions substitute Ga at the center of GaSe4 tetrahedrons, and the rhombic distortion of the CF is caused by the Tl ions located in the trigonal cavities between the tetrahedral complexes. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.