Opportunities of research in multiferroic materials using Angle Dispersive X-ray Diffraction (ADXRD) beamline on Indus-2 synchrotron source

Synchrotron beamlines have advantages of higher flux and wide tunability of photon beam compared to laboratory based equipment for performing x-ray diffraction and x- ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). In this paper we report capabilities of angle dispersive x- ray diffraction beamline (BL-12) on Indus-2 synchrotron source for structural and spectroscopic characterisation of multiferroic materials. Brief description of the beamline along with the photon beam specifications at the experimental station is given. Results on low temperature XRD measurements on mixed spinel system (Fe1.5Co1.5O4) between 30K and 300K and subsequent Reitveld refinement reveal that there are no phase changes but the lattice parameter show anomalous changes between 100 and 150K. It has been explained how XANES spectra on a type II multiferroic, Co3TeO6, and Fe1.5Co1.5O4 can be used for the determination of charge and spin states of transition metal ions.