Synthesis and magnetic properties of LiFePO4 substitution magnesium

LiFe0.9Mg0.1PO4 sample was prepared by using a solid-state reaction method, and the temperature-dependent magnetic properties of the sample were studied. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern showed an olivine-type orthorhombic structure with space group Pnma based on Rietveld refinement method. The effect of Mg substitution in antiferromagnetic LiFe0.9Mg0.1PO4 was investigated using a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) and Mössbauer spectroscopy. The temperature-dependence of the magnetization curves of LiFe0.9Mg0.1PO4 shows abnormal antiferromagnetic behavior with ordering temperature. Sudden changes in both the magnetic hyperfine field (Hhf) and its slope below 15 K suggest that magnetic phase transition associated to the abrupt occurrence of spin-reorientation. The Néel temperature (TN) and spin-reorientation temperature (TS) of LiFe0.9Mg0.1PO4 are lower than those of pure LiFePO4 (TN = 51 K, TS = 23 K). This is due to the Fe-O-Fe superexchange interaction being larger than that of the Fe-O-Mg link. Also, we have confirmed a change in the electric quadrupole splitting (ΔEQ) by the spin-orbit coupling effect and the shape of Mössbauer spectrum has provided the evidence for TS and a strong crystalline field. We have found that Mg ions in LiFe0.9Mg0.1PO4 induce an asymmetric charge density due to the presence of Mg2+ ions at the FeO6 octahedral sites.