Structural and magnetic properties of FeCr2S4 spinel prepared by field-activated sintering and conventional solid-state synthesis

We report on the fast preparation of the ternary magnetic semiconductor spinel FeCr₂S₄ using the Field-Activated Sintering Technique (FAST). The structural (X-ray) and magnetic (Squid) characterization demonstrates a similarity of the properties of the FAST crystals and those prepared by conventional solid-state synthesis. Residual structural disorder in FAST samples has a pronounced influence on the ferrimagnetic–paramagnetic transition and the orbital ordering at low temperatures.