Influence of heavy rare earth ions substitution on microstructure and magnetism of nanocrystalline magnetite

In this work we report results on the influence of heavy rare earth ions substitution on microstructure and magnetism of nanocrystalline magnetite. A series of Fe 2.85RE 0.15O 4 (RE = Gd, Dy, Ho, Tm and Yb) samples have been prepared by high energy ball milling. Structure/microstructure investigations of two selected samples Fe 2.85Gd 0.15O 4 and Fe 2.85Tm 0.15O 4, represent an extension of the previously published results on Fe 3O 4/γ-Fe 2O 3, Fe 2.85Y 0.15O 4 and Fe 2.55In 0.45O 4 [Z. Cvejic, S. Rakic, A. Kremenovic, B. Antic, C. Jovalekic, Ph. Colomban, Sol. State Sciences 8 (2006) 908], while magnetic characterization has been done for all the samples.Crystallite/particle size and strain determined by X-ray diffractometry and Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) confirmed the nanostructured nature of the mechanosynthesized materials. X-ray powder diffraction was used to analyze anisotropic line broadening effects through the Rietveld method. The size anisotropy was found to be small while strain anisotropy was large, indicating nonuniform distribution of deffects in the presence of Gd and Tm in the crystal structure. Superparamagnetic (SPM) behavior at room temperature was observed for all samples studied. The Y-substituted Fe 3O 4 had the largest H C and the lowest M S. We discuss the changes in magnetic properties in relation to their magnetic anisotropy and microstructure. High field irreversibility ( H > 20 kOe) in ZFC/FC magnetization versus temperature indicates the existence of high magnetocrystalline and/or strain induced anisotropy.