Abstract

FeCr2O4 Multiferroic Spinel's Synthesis and Single Crystal Growth by Floating Zone Technique: Its Structure, Composition, and Magnetic Properties

Author(s): James Martin

In order to guarantee its single phase and close to optimal composition, we report the novel spinel structure FeCr₂O₄ synthesis root and its single crystal development via the optical floating zone technique. The advantage of the suggested method of synthesis is the production of the reducing environment required for maintaining the Fe²⁺ oxidation state in the oven through the breakdown of the iron (II) oxalate FeCr₂O₄ utilized as one of the starting components. Mössbauer spectroscopy was used to closely track the presence of Fe³⁺ ions in both the generated single crystals and the resulting polycrystalline samples. The temperature dependences of magnetic susceptibility and heat capacity show a series of the structural (138K) and magnetic (at 65K and 38K) phase transition properties for the compound FeCr₂O₄.