Mössbauer studies on Al-Co ferrites

Mössbauer spectroscopy studies have been performed on the spinel CoAl_xFe_2-xO₄ (2<-x<-1.7) in the temperature range 77-750 K using either a liquid nitrogen bath cryostat or a furnace. The samples are magnetic at 77 K giving spectra that have magnetic sextets coexisting with a central line which increases in population with the Al-content indicating relaxation effects. The data shows that Al possesses no preference to either tetrahedral or octahedral sites of the ferrite over the whole range of concentration. The Mössbauer hyperfine interaction parameters and magnetic transition temperatures were determined. As expected the hyperfine field and Curie temperature decrease when the Al-content increases.