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arXiv · 2308.11128

Structural, morphological, and magnetic characterizations of (Fe0.25Mn0.75)2O3 nanocrystals: a comprehensive stoichiometric determination

Abstract

Iron manganese trioxide (Fe0.25Mn0.75)2O3 nanocrystals were synthesized by the sol-gel method. The 80 K Mossbauer spectrum was well-fitted using two doublets representing the 8b and 24d crystallographic sites of the (FexMn1-x)2O3 phase and two weak extra sextets which were attributed to crystalline and amorphous hematite. Our findings showed formation of a bixbyite primary phase. The Raman spectrum exhibits six Raman active modes, typical of (Fe,Mn)2O3, and two extra Raman modes associated with the secondary hematite phase. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis confirmed the presence of oxygen vacancy onto the (FexMn1-x)2O3 particle surface, with varying oxidation states. X-band magnetic resonance data revealed a single broad resonance line in the whole temperature range (3.8 K - 300 K). The temperature dependence of both resonance field and resonance linewidth shows a remarkable change in the range of 40 - 50 K, herein credited to surface spin glass behavior. The model picture used assumes (FexMn1-x)2O3 nanoparticles with a core-shell structure. Results indicate that below about 50 K the spin system of shell reveals a paramagnetic to spin glass-like transition upon cooling, with a critical temperature estimated at 43 K. In the higher temperature range, the superparamagnetic hematite (secondary) phase contributes remarkably to the temperature dependence of the resonance linewidth. Zero-field-cooled (ZFC) and fieldcooled (FC) data show strong irreversibility and a peak in the ZFC curve at 33 K, attributed to a paramagnetic-ferrimagnetic transition of the main phase. Hysteresis curve at 5 K shows a low coercive field of 4 kOe, with the magnetization not reaching saturation at 70 kOe, suggesting the occurrence of a ferrimagnetic core with a magnetic disorder at surface, characteristic of core-shell spin-glass-like behavior.

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John C. Mantilla, Luiz C. C. M. Nagamine, Daniel R. Cornejo, Renato Cohen, Wesley de Oliveira, Paulo E. N. Souza, Sebastião W. da Silva, Fermin F. H. Aragón, Pedro L. Gastelois, Paulo C. Morais, José A. H. Coaquira. 2023-08-22. Structural, morphological, and magnetic characterizations of (Fe0.25Mn0.75)2O3 nanocrystals: a comprehensive stoichiometric determination. https://arxiv.org/abs/2308.11128

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