Investigation of bixbyite type scandium oxides involving a magnetic cation: Sc2-xFexO3 (0 ≤ x ≤ 1)

Presently, the crystal structure and magnetic properties of Sc2-xFexO3 samples are described for 0.0 <= x <= 1.0. The cubic bixbyite structure (space group: Ia-3) prevails for all compositions. Excellent homogeneity of the samples was confirmed by energy dispersive spectroscopy analysis performed with a Transmission Electron Microscope. The crystal structure of ScFeO3 was determined by combined refinements of powder X-ray and neutron diffraction data. The magnetic behavior is typical of a frustrated system and no long range order prevails at 9 K. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.