Crystal structure, magnetic and Mossbauer studies of DyFexMn1-xO3 multiferroic manganites

The influence of iron replacement on the structural and magnetic properties of Dysprosium manganites was studied using the series of DyFexMn1-xO3 (x = 0.0, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 0.9, and 1.0) compounds. All samples were fabricated by means of the modified auto-combustion sol-gel method, followed by the ball milling technique. Orthorhombic structure (Pnma space group) with high phase purity and crystallinity featured all samples, according to X-ray diffraction analysis. The temperature dependence of magnetization curves indicated antiferromagnetic (AFM) to paramagnetic (PM) transition with the increase in temperature. The Ne ' el temperature (TN) was observed to shift to higher temperatures, whereas the spin reorientation transition temperature (TSR) reduced as Fe3+ content increased. Cusps in the zero-field-cooled (ZFC) curves were detected at low temperatures (around 4 K) as an indication of the ordering of the Dy spin. 57Fe Mossbauer spectra in samples with low iron content were dominated by a high spin (Fe3+) paramagnetic doublet at both 295 K and 78 K, while the distribution in the hyperfine magnetic field accounted for the appearance of the broadening magnetic peaks. High iron samples revealed a magnetic sextet with fit-resolved patterns that indicated a strong AFM coupling of Fe3+ ions. The hyperfine magnetic field (Bhf) magnitude demonstrated a linear increase with the increase in iron doping.