Synthesis, structure and magnetization studies on (Fe1−xCrx)2TeO6 tellurate system

The effect of substitution of Fe by Cr on the structural and magnetic properties of Fe2TeO6 in the system (Fe1−xCrx)2TeO6 (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 1.0) has been investigated on polycrystalline samples synthesized by solid state reaction. The lattice parameters are found to obey Vegard's law in the entire composition range. The Néel temperature decreases linearly with increasing Cr content from ∼230 K for x = 0 to 90 K for x = 1 and is attributed to the weakening of antiferromagnetic exchange interaction as Cr3+ replaces Fe3+ in Fe2TeO6.