Refinements of the six-layer structures of the R-type hexagonal ferrites BaTi2Fe4O11 and BaSn2Fe4O11

The structures of BaTi₂Fe₄O₁₁ and BaSn₂Fe₄O₁₁ have been determined from neutron powder diffraction data collected at 300 K using the Rietveld profile refinement. The compounds were found to be isostructural, space group $\text{P6}{}_3\text{mmc}$. BaTi₂Fe₄O₁₁: a = 5.8470(2) Å, c = 13.6116(9) Å, V = 403.01(5) ų, M = 632.6, Z = 2, D_calc. = 3.09 Mg m^?3, final R-factor = 3.77. BaSn₂Fe₄O₁₁: a = 5.9624(5) Å, c = 13.7468(14) Å, V = 423.23(10) ų, M = 774.2, Z = 2. D_calc. = 3.66 Mg m^?3, final R-factor = 2.41. The structure consists of h-stacked BaO₃ and O₄ layers in the ratio 1:2. The BaO₃ layers contain a mirror plane. Between the O₄ layers three octahedral sites are occupied, and between the BaO₃ and O₄ layers an octahedral site and a tetrahedral site are occupied. Because of the mirror plane in the BaO₃ plane the latter sites both share faces in the BaO₃ plane. The octahedral sites are occupied by Fe and Ti or Sn, the pair of tetrahedral sites is occupied by one Fe atom. This Fe atom may hop between these two tetrahedral sites. The structure is considered to be constructed by two R-blocks of the BaFe₁₂O₁₉ (M) structure. Unit-cell dimensions are given of a number of isostructural compounds of general formula A^IIB^IV₂C^III₃O₁₁. Mössbauer experiments on some of these compounds were focused on the tetrahedral positions that show an unusual quadrupole splitting. A brief review is given of the observed magnetic properties of some compounds with the R-structure.