The magnetic properties and anisotropy of the linear chain compound TlFe3Te3

The magnetic properties of TlFe₃Te₃ are studied on powdered samples and single crystals. Below 220 K TlFe₃Te₃, is a very anisotropic ferromagnet, the crystallographic c axis being the easy axis of magnetization. While in the easy direction saturation is achieved below 0.5 kOe, in the hard direction saturation is reached at 64 kOe. The angular dependence of the magnetization follows closely a cos ¦?¦ law. The magnetic transition is very abrupt at low external fields, suggesting a first order phase transition. It is accompanied by a small anomaly in the thermal dilatation of the c axis. The magnetization shows an anomalous increase below 50 K suggesting a phase transition.