Magnetic structure of S=1/2 triangular Li1-xNi1+xO2

The sign and the hierarchy of the magnetic interactions in Li1-xNi1+xO2 hav e been the subject of controversy for long and renewed recently by its prom ising properties for batteries. Here, based on a systematic experimental st udy performed on carefully characterized samples, a new theoretical scheme is proposed: well oriented ferromagnetic clusters are progressively formed with increasing doping x. Therefore, the cluster magnetization Me increases up to a critical value, and then, for x > x(c), M-c decreases due to exces s Ni2+--Ni3+ interplane antiferromagnetic interactions. (C) 1999 Elsevier S cience B.V. All rights reserved.