Synthesis and Single Crystal Growth by Floating Zone Technique of FeCr2O4 Multiferroic Spinel: Its Structure, Composition, and Magnetic Properties
R. G. Batulin, М.А. Черосов, Airat Kiiamov, Almaz L. Zinnatullin, F. G. Vagizov, D. A. Tayurskiı̆, R. V. Yusupov
Abstract
We present the new synthesis root of spinel-structure FeCr2O4 and its single crystal growth by the optical floating zone method, ensuring its single phase and near-ideal composition. The advantage of the proposed synthesis method is the creation of the reducing atmosphere in the oven needed for preserving the Fe2+ oxidation state via decomposition of the iron (II) oxalate FeC2O4 used as one of the initial components. The occurrence of the Fe3+ ions in the obtained polycrystalline samples as well as grown single crystals was carefully monitored by means of Mössbauer spectroscopy. Magnetic susceptibility and heat capacity temperature dependences reveal a sequence of the structural (138 K) and magnetic (at 65 K and 38 K) phase transition characteristics for the FeCr2O4 compound.