Magnetic Contribution to Heat Capacity and Entropy of Nicke Ferrite (NiFe2O4)
The heat capacity of nickel ferrite was measured as a function of temperature over the range from 50 to 1200 C using a differential scanning calorimeter. A thermal anomaly was observed at 584.9 C, the expected Curie temperature, T{sub c}. The observed behavior was interpreted by recognizing the sum of three contributions: (1) lattice (vibrational), (2) a spin wave (magnetic) component and (3) a {lambda}-transition (antiferromagnetic-paramagnetic transition) at the Curie temperature. The first was modeled using vibrational frequencies derived from an experimentally-based ir absorption spectrum, while the second was modeled using a spin wave analysis that provided a T{sup 3/2} dependency in the low temperature limit, but incorporated an exchange interaction between cation spins in the octahedral and tetrahedral sites at elevated temperatures, as first suggested by Grimes [15]. The {lambda}-transition was fitted to an Inden-type model which consisted of two truncated power law series in dimensionless temperature (T/T{sub c}). Exponential equality was observed below and above T{sub c}, indicating symmetry about the Curie temperature. Application of the methodology to existing heat capacity data for other transition metal ferrites (AFe{sub 2}O{sub 4}, A = Fe, Co) revealed the same exponential equality, i.e., m = n = 5.
- Research Organization:
- Knolls Atomic Power Lab. (KAPL), Niskayuna, NY (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- DE-AC12-00SN39357
- OSTI ID:
- 875901
- Report Number(s):
- LM-05K177; TRN: US0600951
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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