Temperature dependence of the cation distribution in ZnFe2O4 measured with high temperature neutron diffraction

ZnFe2O4 has a spinel-type structure with Zn2+ ions located mainly on tetrahedral sites and Fe3+ ions located on octahedral sites. ZnFe2O4 Was Synthesized in air by a solid state reaction and characterized with X-ray diffraction, high temperature neutron diffraction, resistivity measurements and dilatometry. The distribution Of Cations in ZnFe2O4 Was Measured from 298 to 1243 K and results show that above 673 K the cations start to redistributed in the structure. ZnFe2O4 has a semi-conducting behavior at room temperature, but at temperatures above 905 K the conductivity decreases as the result of an Fe-Fe interaction between octahedral sites. (C) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.