Short Range and Long Range Magnetic Order in 1T-Li2NiO2

The magnetic behavior of 1T-Li2NiO2 was examined by dc magnetization measurements and powder neutron diffraction. A magnetic structure was refined from low temperature powder neutron diffraction data. The low temperature magnetic structure is formed by antiferromagnetic coupling of ferromagnetically aligned nickel sheets, resulting in a doubling of the cell along the c-axis. The dc magnetization measurements show applied field and temperature dependence indicative of competition between long range antiferromagnetic ordering and short range ferromagnetic coupling, resulting in a metamagnetic transition.