Raman spectroscopic study of magnetite (FeFe2O4): a new assignment for the vibrational spectrum

A detailed Raman study on natural magnetite has been carried out. Raman spectra show four out of the five predicted Raman bands located at 668, 538, 306, and 193 rcm⁻¹. The location of the fifth, unobserved phonon mode, is inferred from spectra of other ferrites at 450-490 rcm⁻¹. Polarized experiments on an oriented single crystal provide a new interpretation of the Raman spectrum with the following assignment for symmetries of the observed modes: A_1g for 668 rcm⁻¹, E_g for 306 rcm⁻¹, and T_2g for 538, 193, and 450-490 rcm⁻¹. The results are compared with those of the earlier Raman studies and possible explanations for the discrepancies are suggested. Some of the inconsistencies can be resolved by considering the effect of oxidation of magnetite during the Raman experiments.