Crystallographic and Magnetic Properties of Mn_xFe_3-xO₄Powders

Abstract

$Mn_xFe_{3-x}O_4$ powders have been fabricated by using sol-gel methods; their crystallographic and magnetic properties were investigated by using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, M$\ddot{o}$ssbauer spectroscopy, and vibrating sample magnetometer. The $Mn_xFe_{3-x}O_4$ ferrite powders annealed at $500^{\circ}C$ had a single spinel structure regardless of the $Mn^{2+}$-doping amount and their lattice constants became larger as the $Mn^{2+}$ concentration was increased. Their Mossbauer spectra measured at room temperature were fitted with 2 Zeeman sextets due to the tetrahedral and octahedral sites of Fe ions, which made them ferrimagnetic. The magnetic behavior of $Mn_xFe_{3-x}O_4$ powders showed that the $Mn^{2+}$-doping amount made their saturation magnetization increase, but there were no severe effects on their coercivities. The saturation magnetization of the $Mn_xFe_{3-x}O_4$ powder varied from 38 emu/g to 70.0 emu/g and their minimum coercivity was 111.1 Oe.