Mechanochemically assisted synthesis of Y-La orthoferrite: structural and magnetic characterization

A. CRISTÓBAL; P. BOTTA; P. G. BERCOFF; E. AGLIETTI; H. R. BERTORELLO; J. M. PORTO LÓPEZ

JOURNAL OF ALLOYS AND COMPOUNDS

ELSEVIER SCIENCE SA

Año: 2010 vol. 495 p. 516 - 519

0925-8388

Polycrystalline Y0.5La0.5FeO3 powder was synthesized by mechanochemical activation ofFe3O4–La2O3–Y2O3 reactive mixtures. X-ray diffraction was used to follow the evolution of the formation of this orthoferrite. Peaks corresponding to reactants were no longer observed after 3 h of activation, showing the completion of the reaction after this time. Magnetic hysteresis loops measured at room temperature revealed a gradual decrease of saturation magnetization, consistent with the consumption of ferrimagnetic Fe3O4 and the formation of antiferromagnetic Y0.5La0.5FeO3. However, a small ferromagnetic contribution was observed even after 3 h of milling, which can be attributed to a canting in the alignment of the two sub-lattices in the orthoferrite structure. This uncompensated antiferromagnetism disappeared when the solid was heated, giving rise to a nearly antiferromagnetic structure.