Synthesis and magnetic properties of nano-dimensional Fe1−xCuxAl2O4 (0.3 ≤ x ≤ 0.8)

Abstract

Here we report, the sol–gel synthesized, microstructural analysis, surface and magnetic properties of solid solutions of Fe_1−xCu_xAl₂O₄. The singular phase of the samples for x values varied between 0.3 and 0.8 at 700 °C has been obtained. The powder X-ray diffraction, electron diffraction and HRTEM analysis reveal that the particle size systemically increases with the increase in x value. The XPS studies have confirmed the presence of Cu²⁺ species with a (Fe + Cu)/Al surface atomic ratio close to the bulk stoichiometric value. Unlike the common magnetic spinels with B-site magnetic cations, Fe_1−xCu_xAl₂O₄ shows only A-site magnetism in a diamond-type lattice. The samples with smaller particle size, namely the samples for x = 0.3 and 0.4 exhibit small magnetization. The origin of such magnetism is attributed to the inversion in the spinel structure and the defect induced magnetism. Except for the x = 0.7 sample, all other samples show spin glass behavior.