Ordered magnetic frustration: IX. Magnetic structure of Ba2Ni3F10 at 2.5 K

The magnetic structure of Ba₂Ni₃F₁₀ at 2.5 K has been solved and refined from powder neutron diffraction data. Magnetic moments are oriented along -1 0 1] perpendicularly to the rutile chains axis of the structure as in rutile NiF₂. Competition between strong antiferromagnetic and weak ferromagnetic interactions within even cycles of corner-sharing and edge-sharing octahedra leads to a frustrated antiferromagnetic coupling in bioctahedra units while non-frustrated rutile-like chains exhibit a normal ferromagnetic coupling.