A NEUTRON-DIFFRACTION STUDY OF THE PHASE-TRANSITION IN PD2TIIN

Powder neutron diffraction measurements have been undertaken on Pd2TiI n over the temperature range 4-300 K. Previous measurements of the bul k magnetic properties indicated a magnetic transition in the neighbour hood of 110 K. The neutron measurements reveal a structural phase tran sition at 92 K. The transition appeared to be of first order, and no e vidence was found of any long-range magnetic order below 92 K. However , the existence of ferrimagnetic order, involving the Pd and Ti atoms, could not be ruled out. The results are discussed in terms of the sta bility of the magnetic moment and the presence of spin fluctuations.