Structure and magnetic properties of Mn doped α-Fe2O3

Magnetic transition metal oxides are interesting candidates for both academic as well as industrial researches. In the present work, we study the influence of partial Mn doping on structural and magnetic and dielectric properties of alpha-Fe2O3 using x-ray and neutron diffraction, magnetization and dielectric measurements. In particular, this paper deals structural, magnetic and dielectric properties of Fe1.95Mn0.05O3. The compound is found to crystallize in corundum type (alpha-Al2O3) having rhombohedral lattice structure with hexagonal setting in the space group (R-3c). It is seen that partial substitution of Fe by Mn in alpha-Fe2O3 (known as hematite) drastically alters the Morin transition in the hematite compound by reducing the ordering temperature from a value of 260 K to about 220 K. Information about ferrimagnetic structure of Fe1.95Mn0.05O3 has been obtained from the magnetic part of the neutron diffraction analysis. The results of room temperature neutron diffraction, temperature dependent magnetization and dielectric studies are reported and discussed in the present work in order to understand the correlation between structure and magnetism in this compound and ways in which magnetism and other physical properties can be controlled.