Unraveling the Complex Interplay of Phase Transitions in Spinel Ferrites: A Comprehensive Quantum Mechanical Vibrational Study of ZnFe ₂O ₄

Abstract

The rich phase transition landscape of spinel ferrites and its profound impact on their physical properties have garnered significant interest in recent years. The complex interplay of divalent and trivalent cations distributed across A- and B-sites gives rise to a captivating variety of interactions. In this study, we delve into the structural, electronic, magnetic, and vibrational properties of ZnFe ₂O ₄ as a function of the degree of inversion, employing first-principles density functional theory with global and range-separated hybrid functionals and a local basis set. The ground state of ZnFe ₂O ₄ is an open-shell system, characterized by Zn atoms occupying tetrahedral sites, Fe atoms residing in octahedral sites, and Fe atom spins exhibiting ligand parallel alignment. In the normal structure, the antiparallel arrangement is less stable than the ferro arrangement by 0.058 eV (673 K) for fully relaxed structures, decreasing to 0.034 eV (395 K) upon incorporating a zero-point vibrations contribution. For normal ferromagnetic ZnFe ₂O ₄, we calculated scattering for A _1g, E _g, and 3T _2g symmetry at 676.6, 367.1, and (189.7, 457.7, 602.3) cm ^–1, respectively. Additionally, four T _1u vibrational frequencies predicted by group theory were obtained at 524.59, 358.48, 312.49, and 192.9 cm ^–1, demonstrating excellent agreement with the experimental studies. We also explored the influence of spin rearrangement and inversion ( X = 0.5 and 1) on Raman and infrared spectra. By analyzing the infrared spectra of isotopic substitutions, we reevaluated the assignments of the four T _1u modes in light of available experimental data. Notably, the sensitivity of peak positions and intensities for some Raman modes, particularly A _1g and T _2g(2), to spin arrangement could provide a convenient experimental tool for detecting phase transitions induced by changes in temperature or external electric fields. This investigation shines a light on the complex interplay of phase transitions in spinel ferrites, paving the way for a deeper understanding of their properties and potential applications.