Sputter-deposited copper ferrite (CuFe2O4) films can be stabilized in cubic or tetragonal structures depending on the deposition conditions and post-deposition heat treatment [1]. The difference is explained by redistribution of cations over particular crystal sites and a distortion of the spinel lattice due to the Jahn-Teller effect of Cu2+ ions.
Here we report hyperfine parameters of 57Fe nuclei in octahedral and tetrahedral iron sites and occupancy of Cu2+ ions in tetrahedral sites of CuFe2O4 (can be considered in principle as an inverse spinel) derived by Mössbauer spectroscopy.