Triclinic Ni0.6Co0.4TiO3 Ilmenite Oxide

TL;DR

This study reveals that Ni0.6Co0.4TiO3, a solid solution of ilmenite oxides, exhibits a unique triclinic crystal symmetry at room temperature, which could influence its magnetic and functional properties.

Contribution

The paper reports the discovery of a triclinic symmetry in Ni0.6Co0.4TiO3, a novel structural distortion in ilmenite oxides, expanding understanding of their structural and functional diversity.

Findings

Ni0.6Co0.4TiO3 has triclinic P-1 symmetry at room temperature.

Ni and Co ions prefer positions near the octahedron center.

Ti ions exhibit off-center positions, indicating structural distortion.

Abstract

Forming a solid-solution of NiTiO3 and CoTiO3, two isostructural (ilmenite) and isosymmetrical (space group R-3) compounds, result in a single-phase compound with a remarkably low crystal symmetry. By neutron and X-ray synchrotron powder diffraction techniques, the space group symmetry of the Ni0.6Co0.4TiO3 sample was found to be triclinic P-1 at room temperature, far above the magnetic transition temperature. Ni and Co ions were found to prefer positions close to the octahedron center, whereas Ti ions took off-center positions. This structural distortion is the first known case in ilmenites and opens up ways to modify functional properties of magnetic oxides. Origin of the symmetry lowering is discussed.