Powder X-ray diffraction and Rietveld analysis of Cd1−xCuxCr2O4(0.1≤x≤0.7)

Abstract

Structural properties of Cd1−xCuxCr2O4(CCCO) have been investigated by means of X-ray powder diffraction and Rietveld analysis. A structural phase transformation from Fd3m to I42d at x=0.64 has been detected. The lattice constant a of the cubic unit cell decreases rapidly with increasing Cu content up to x=0.62. At x=0.64, the cubic unit cell is compressed into a tetragonal cell and CrO6 octahedrons are distorted. With continuing Cu content increases above 0.64, the distortion of the unit cell is released slightly according to the changes in c/a. Magnetic properties of Cd1−xCuxCr2O4(x=0.1,0.3,0.5,0.7) have also been measured and are discussed.