Abstract
The disordered structure of lithium ferrite (α-LiFeO2) has been investigated in X-ray and electron diffraction techniques. The characteristic short range order (SRO) diffuse scattering was commonly interpreted by the clustering model. The SRO state can be described by interconnecting two kinds of clusters (Fig. 1). Alternatively, it may be interpreted in terms of microdomains of some ordered structures.In the present study, the specimen was investigated with high resolution electron microscopy and optical diffraction technique. The techniquescould give the information about the SRO state in a direct way. The material investigated was α-LiFeO2in the form of a fine powder dispersed on a holey carbon grid.Fig. 2 shows electron diffraction patterns of the specimen in the <001> and <110> observing directions. The locus of the diffuse scattering does not exactly fit with the formula, cosπh + cosπk + cosπℓ = 0, which was derived from SRO arrangement of Li and Fe ions inside the clusters. This fact suggests the existance of “inter-cluster” ordering.
Published Version
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