Antiferromagnetism in alpha-Li3Fe2(PO4)(3)

Neutron diffraction techniques have been used to determine the magnetic str ucture of Fe in monoclinic alpha -Li3Fe2(PO4)(3). Rietveld analysis of the room temperature powder diffraction pattern confirms the monoclinic structu re of the sample and is in agreement with previous studies. At low temperat ures a paramagnetic to antiferromagnetic transition is observed at T-N = 30 .0 K. Our analysis shows that at T = 4 K the two inequivalent Fe sites have antiparallel magnetic moments that are aligned along the a-axis. The avera ge magnetic moment, gS = 5.0 mu (B) indicates homogeneous Fe3+ (S = 5/2). ( C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.