Mössbauer and magnetic study of Mn2+- and Cr3+-substituted spinel magnesioferrites of the composition Mg1−xMnxFe2−2xCr2xO4

Chromium and manganese co-substituted spinel magnesioferrites of the composition Mg1−xMnxFe2−2xCr2xO4 (x = 0.0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, and 0.5) were investigated with X-ray diffraction (XRD), Mössbauer spectroscopy and magnetic measurements. The cation distribution inferred suggests that Mn2+ and Cr3+ ions dominantly occupy the A- and B-sites respectively. The gradual decrease of the hyperfine fields and Curie temperatures with increasing x reflects a gradual weakening in the AB exchange interaction. Mössbauer data of the sample with x = 0.5 is suggestive of cation clustering and/or superparamagnetism. The magnetization data is suggestive of Yafet-Kittel-type canted magnetism.