On the magnetic compensation effect of lithium-chromium ferrites Li _0.5Cr_xFe_2.5-xO₄ (0 ≤ x ≤ 1.55)

Lithium-chromium ferrites Li_0.5Fe_2.5-xCr _xO₄ (0 ≤ x ≤ 1.55) were studied using X-ray diffraction, magnetization measurements and Mössbauer spectroscopy. X-ray diffraction patterns show that all samples have cubic spinel structure. The temperature dependent magnetic measurements revealed that a magnetic compensation point appears at chromium concentration x = 1.05, 1.25 and 1.55. Moreover, it was observed that the Curie temperature T_C decreases and approaches the compensation temperature T_K as Cr³⁺ substitution for Fe³⁺ increases. The magnetization data at all concentrations are discussed in the light of Néel's molecular field model taking into account the cation distributions obtained using the analysis of Mössbauer spectra.