Short-range B-site ordering in the inverse spinel ferrite NiFe2O4

The Raman spectra of single crystals of NiFe2O4 were studied in various scattering configurations in close comparison with the corresponding spectra of Ni0.7Zn0.3Fe2O4 and Fe3O4. The number of experimentally observed Raman modes exceeds significantly that expected for a normal spinel structure and the polarization properties of most of the Raman lines provide evidence for a microscopic symmetry lower than that given by the Fd (3) over barO m space group. We argue that the experimental results can be explained by considering the short-range 1:1 ordering of Ni2+ and Fe3+ at the B sites of inverse spinel structure, most probably of tetragonal P4122/P4322 symmetry.