Competition between 3d and 4f magnetism in Ce2Fe2S5

Magnetic susceptibility measurements and neutron powder diffraction were performed on the rare-earth transition-metal sulfide Ce2Fe2S5 to study the effect of the substitution of nonmagnetic La3+ (4f0) by Ce3+ 4f1). Ce2Fe2S5, which is isostructural to La2Fe2S5, contains Fe2+ ions within chains of iron-sulfur octahedra and tetrahedra that are interconnected by Ce2+ ions. Two antiferromagnetic phases, both with the propagation vector , are observed: at ordering of the Fe2+ moments is found; at the Ce3+ ions also participate in the magnetic ordering.