Synthesis and study of alpha-Fe1.4Ga0.6O3: An advanced Ferromagnetic Semiconductor

TL;DR

This study synthesizes alpha-Fe1.4Ga0.6O3, demonstrating its structural stability and enhanced magnetic, dielectric, and optical properties, making it a promising ferromagnetic semiconductor with tunable features.

Contribution

It reports the successful synthesis and detailed characterization of a Ga-doped alpha-Fe2O3 compound with improved properties over previous compositions.

Findings

Samples are soft ferromagnets at room temperature.

Dielectric loss is low with high ac conductivity at high frequencies.

Optical absorption is increased by 4 to 5%."

Abstract

We report the synthesis of alpha-Fe1.4Ga0.6O3 compound and present its structural phase stability and interesting magnetic, dielectric and photo-absorption properties. In our work Ga doped alpha-Fe2O3 samples are well stabilized in alpha phase (rhombohedral crystal structure with space group R3C). Properties of the present composition of Ga doped alpha-Fe2O3 system are remarkably advanced in comparison with recently most studied FeGaO3 composition. At room temperature the samples are typical soft ferromagnet, as well as direct band gap semiconductor. Dielectric study showed low dielectric loss in the samples with large enhancement of ac conductivity at higher frequencies. Optical absorption in the visible range has been enhanced by 4 to 5%. This composition has exhibited large scope of tailoring room temperature ferromagnetic moment and optical band gap by varying grain size and non-ambient (vacuum) heat treatment of the as prepared samples by mechanical alloying.