Crystal and magnetic structures of Cr{sub 1∕3}NbSe{sub 2} from neutron diffraction
Neutron diffraction measurements of the Cr intercalated niobium diselenide Cr{sub 1∕3}NbSe{sub 2} together with magnetization measurements have revealed that this compound exhibits ferromagnetic ordering below T{sub C} = 96 K unlike a chiral helimagnetic order observed in the sulfide compound Cr{sub 1∕3}NbS{sub 2}. As derived from neutron diffraction data, the Cr magnetic moments μ{sub Cr} = 2.83 ± 0.03 μ{sub B} in Cr{sub 1∕3}NbSe{sub 2} are aligned within basal plane. The discrepancy in the magnetic states of Cr{sub 1∕3}NbS{sub 2} and Cr{sub 1∕3}NbSe{sub 2} is ascribed to the difference in the preferential site occupation of Cr ions in crystal lattices. In Cr{sub 1∕3}NbSe{sub 2}, the Cr ions are predominantly distributed over 2b Wyckoff site, which determines a centrosymmetric character of the crystal structure unlike Cr{sub 1∕3}NbS{sub 2}, where the Cr ions are mainly located in 2c position and the crystal structure is non-centrosymmetric.