Magnetic properties of the Tb4+ ion in Li2TbF6: Particular crystal chemical behavior within the Li2MIVF6 compounds

Magnetic properties of polycrystalline samples of Li2TbF6 were studied in high continuous magnetic fields up to 20 Teslas between 1.4 and 300 K. In this new structural type, all the results agree with the calculated Tb4+ free ion values (8S72 ground state multiplet), and the 4+ oxidation state of the terbium ion was unambiguously inferred. The particular crystal chemical behavior of the Tb4+ ion is discussed using the phase relationship within the series of Li2MIVF6 compounds.