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

Abstract ZnFe 2 O 4 has a spinel-type structure with Zn 2 + ions located mainly on tetrahedral sites and Fe 3 + ions located on octahedral sites. ZnFe 2 O 4 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 ZnFe 2 O 4 was measured from 298 to 1243 K and results show that above 673 K the cations start to redistributed in the structure. ZnFe 2 O 4 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.