Room temperature ferromagnetism in conducting α-(In1-xFex)2O3 alloy films

We have studied electronic transport and magnetic properties of alpha-(In1-xFex)(2)O-3 alloy films. Temperature dependence of resistivity of the films showed semiconducting behavior of conductivity. Room temperature ferromagnetism was observed. Relatively high coercive fields indicated that observed ferromagnetism in alpha-(In1-xFex)(2)O-3 films were not arisen from magnetic metallic iron nano-precipitates. Remanence measurement revealed the Curie temperature of 520K and 620K for alpha-(In0.52Fe0.48)(2)O-3 and alpha-(In0.23Fe0.77)(2)O-3 films, corresponding to a weakening of superexchange interactions in these alloys (with less magnetic iron cations) with respect to canted antiferromagnet alpha-Fe2O3. Nevertheless, Curie temperatures remain much higher than 300 K, and semiconducting behavior with low activation energy in resistivity for middle composition alloy, exhibiting combined multi-functionality of room ferromagnetism and semiconducting properties, in corundum alloys such as alpha-(Ga1-xFex)(2)O-3 or alpha-Fe2-xTixO3. (C) 2015 AIP Publishing LLC.