Magnetic spectroscopy of nanoparticulate greigite, Fe3S4

DOI: 10.1180/minmag.2016.080.114

Authors: Richard A. D. Pattrick (The University of Manchester) , Victoria S, Coker (The University of Manchester) , Masood Akhtar (The University of Manchester) , M. Azad Malik (The University of Manchester) , Edward Lewis (The University of Manchester) , Sarah Haigh (The University of Manchester) , Paul O'Brien (The University of Manchester) , Padraic C. Shafer (Advanced Light Source, Lawrence Berkeley National Labs) , Gerrit Van Der Laan (The University of Manchester; Diamond Light Source)
Co-authored by industrial partner: No

Type: Journal Paper
Journal: Mineralogical Magazine , VOL 81 , PAGES 857

State: Published (Approved)
Published: August 2016

Abstract: Synthesis of Ni and Zn substituted nano-greigite, Fe3S4, is achieved from single source diethyldithiocarbamato precursor compounds, producing particles typically 50–100 nm in diameter with plate-like pseudohexagonal morphologies. Up to 12 wt.% Ni is incorporated into the greigite structure, and there is evidence that Zn is also incorporated but Co is not substituted into the lattice. The Fe L3 X-ray absorption spectra for these materials have a narrow single peak at 707.7 eV and the resulting main X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) has the same sign at 708.75 eV. All XMCD spectra also have a broad positive feature at 711 eV, a characteristic of covalent mixing. The greigite XMCD spectra contrast with the three clearly defined XMCD site specific peaks found in the ferrite spinel, magnetite. The Fe L2,3 X-ray absorption spectra and XMCD spectra of the greigite reflect and reveal the high conductivity of greigite and the very strong covalency of the Fe–S bonding. The electron hopping between Fe3+ and Fe2+ on octahedral sites results in an intermediate oxidation state of the Fe in theOh site of Fe2.5+ producing an effective formula of [Fe3þ "]A-site[2Fe2:5þ #]B-siteS24 ]. The Ni L2,3 X-ray absorption spectra and XMCD reveal substitution on the Oh site with a strongly covalent character and an oxidation state <Ni1.5+ in a representative formula [Fe3þ "]A [[(2  x)Fe2:5þ #][Ni1:5þx ]]BS24.

Journal Keywords: XMCD; XAS; minerals; geology

Subject Areas: Earth Science, Chemistry, Physics

Diamond Offline Facilities: Magnetic Spectroscopy Lab

Facility: 4.0.2 at ALS

Added On: 12/08/2017 21:34

Discipline Tags:

Earth Sciences & Environment Mineralogy Physics Physical Chemistry Chemistry Magnetism Geology

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