Structural Characterization and Magnetic Properties of the Spinel Compound CoIn0.5Cr1.5S4.

Single crystals of the magnetic semiconductor CoIn0.5Cr1.5S4, belong to the system CoIn(2-2X)Cr(2X)S4 with x = 0.75, was grown by the chemical transport method. X-ray powder diffraction characterization by the Rietveld method indicated that CoIn0.5Cr1.5S4 crystallizes in the space group Fd-3m, Z = 8, with a = 10.0700(6) A and V = 1021.2(1) A3, in a normal spinel structure. The temperature dependence of the DC magnetization suggests that the studied compound presents a ferromagnetic behavior with a Curie temperature Tc = 220 K. Sharp spin-glass like behavior was found also. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)