Rietveld Refinement of Nanocrystalline LiFeO 2 Synthesized by Sol-Gel Method and Its Structural and Magnetic Properties

Nanocrystalline lithium iron oxide LiFeO2 was synthesized using sol-gel method. Rietveld analysis was performed to confirm the different phases associated in the formation of LiFeO2. Quantitative Rietveld refinement revealed that sample contains: 39.9 wt% of cubic α – LiFeO2 phase, 58.5 wt% of monoclinic β - LiFeO2 and tetragonal 1.7 wt%. of γ - LiFeO2. The nanocrystalline nature of the prepared samples was confirmed by SEM analysis. The magnetic properties of LiFeO2 showed ferromagnetic property at room temperature.