Analysis of the Griffiths–like phase observed in binary ε-Fe2N nitride

The structure and magnetic properties of binary e-Fe2N nitride are investigated systematically and a Griffiths-like phase (GP) behavior is observed at low magnetic field. On cooling, the inverse magnetic susceptibility (1/χ) curve reveals that the GP behavior appears at 260 K. By the electron spin resonance spectra measurement and the density functional theory calculation, we suggest that the short-range ferromagnetic clusters and the local disorder within the crystallographic structure, which are stabilized and enhanced from the completion of the intra-layer Fe–Fe and inter-layer Fe–N–Fe interactions, contribute to the GP behavior.