Raman and Mossbauer spectroscopy and X-ray diffractometry studies on quenched copper-ferri-aluminates.

Four spinel ferrite compositions of the CuAl(x)Fe(2-x)O4, x = 0.0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, system prepared by usual double-sintering ceramic route and quenched (rapid thermal cooling) from final sintering temperature (1373 K) to liquid nitrogen temperature (80 K) were investigated by employing X-ray powder diffractometry, (57)Fe Mossbauer spectroscopy, and micro-Raman spectroscopy at 300 K. The Raman spectra collected in the wavenumber range of 100-1000 cm(-1) were analyzed in a systematic manner and showed five predicted modes for the spinel structure and splitting of A1g Raman mode into two/three energy values, attributed to peaks belonging to each ion (Cu(2+), Fe(3+), and Al(3+)) in the tetrahedral positions. The suppression of lower-frequency peaks was explained on the basis of weakening in magnetic coupling and reduction in ferrimagnetic behavior as well as increase in stress induced by square bond formation on Al(3+) substitution. The enhancement in intensity, random variation of line width, and blue shift for highest frequency peak corresponding to A1g mode were observed. The ferric ion (Fe(3+)) concentration for different compositions determined from Raman spectral analysis agrees well with that deduced by means of X-ray diffraction line-intensity calculations and Mossbauer spectral analysis. An attempt was made to determine elastic and thermodynamic properties from Raman spectral analysis and elastic constants from cation distribution.