Magnetic properties and structural anomalies observed in multiferroic NdFe3(BO3)4 by 57Fe Mossbauer spectroscopy

The results of studies of the NdFe3(BO3)(4) by Fe-57 Mossbauer spectroscopy in comparison with the data of single crystal X-ray diffraction measurements are presented. Scanning of the crystal cell parameters in a wide temperature range T = 15-500 K revealed a negative thermal expansion along the c axis and structural anomalies. The temperature dependences of the Mossbauer parameters of hyperfine interaction in the paramagnetic state of NdFe3(BO3)(4) correlate well with the behavior of crystal cell parameters obtained by X-ray diffraction data. The temperature of the magnetic phase transition T-N = 32.54(4) K is established, below which the iron ions form a 3D magnetic order of the Izing type. The magnetic transition of the iron subsystem from a commensurate to an incommensurate structure at a temperature of about T # 15 K is discussed. The Mossbauer Debye temperature Theta(M) was estimated to be 485(2) K. (C) 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The results of Fe-57 Mossbauer spectroscopy and single crystal X-ray diffraction measurements reveal the structural characteristics and magnetic phase transition temperature of NdFe3(BO3)(4). The study shows negative thermal expansion and structural anomalies in the crystal cell parameters over a wide temperature range, which are well correlated with the Mossbauer parameters in the paramagnetic state. The magnetic transition from a commensurate to an incommensurate structure in the iron subsystem at a lower temperature is also discussed.