Magnetic measurements on an intercalate Fe0.9PS3(Phen)0.4: an ESR study

Abstract The polycrystalline powders of an intercalation compound Fe 0.9 PS 3 (Phen) 0.4 have been studied by electron spin resonance (ESR) technique in the temperature range of 9– 300 K . A relatively broad (400 G ) and very strong single ESR signal in X-band spectra has been observed at all the temperature ranges. In the linewidth of the ESR spectra, some small and relatively smooth changes at about 85 and 160 K have taken place as well. While the g -value remains almost constant, both the ESR line intensity and the linewidth were seen to increase first slowly until T=40 K and then fast until a specific temperature, T c =15 K . However, all these parameters were observed to change dramatically at about T c , indicating a magnetic phase transition. A very sharp decrease in ESR signal intensity and accompanying line broadening below 15 K indicate a very strong spin frustaration at lower temperatures.