Structure Transition and Charge Competition on YFe 2 O 4

Abstract

We report the low temperature charge ordered structure and magnetic relaxation in nearly stoichiometric YFe 2 O 4 in which the charge frustration effect is considered to be dominant. The superlattice reflections have revealed the presence of four different phases with a triple, double, quadruple and septuplex charge-superstructure in the temperature range from room temperature to 130 K. The observed successive transitions have been proposed by a previous X-ray powder diffraction study. A slow relaxation of the superstructure was found at 130 K. Time dependence of the magnetic moment was observed at about 240 K to suggest a similar relaxation.