Cation ordering in LiFe5O8 studied by Moessbauer spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography

In order to establish the atomic order (or disorder) of Li atoms in LiFe5O8, a crystallographic structure refinement and a spectroscopic Moessbauer study are made. Several polycrystalline and monocrystalline samples are separately heat treated and studied. The results are in agreement with the existence of a short-range order in the disordered phase. An exact fit of the Moessbauer spectra is done and distinguishes three Fe/sub B/ sites and two Fe/sub A/ sites magnetically inequivalent. The calculated dipolar fields are consistent with values determined by NMR. (author)