Room temperature ferromagnetism in Fe-doped europium oxide (Eu1.90Fe0.10O3−δ)

• Eu1.90Fe0.10O3−δ is prepared by co-precipitation method.
• The sample is sintered at 700 °C in inert atmosphere to create oxygen vacancy.
• Room temperature ferromagnetism is observed with high magnetization.
• The coexistence of both paramagnetic and ferromagnetic phase is observed.
• Ferromagnetism is attributed to the bound magnetic polaron.

Nanoparticles of Fe-doped europium oxide (Eu1.90Fe0.10O3−δ) are prepared by co-precipitation method. To obtain the desired nanocrystalline phase, the as prepared sample has been sintered at 700 °C for 6 h in an argon atmosphere. The crystallographic phase is confirmed by Rietveld analysis of the X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern. The results of XRD analysis is also in agreement with those obtained from high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and Raman spectra of the sample. The results of XRD, HRTEM and Raman spectra confirmed that all Fe ions are successfully doped in the lattice of europium oxide. Also, no impurity phase has been formed in the sample. Hysteretic behavior in the magnetization versus applied field curve confirmed the presence of ferromagnetic ordering of Eu1.90Fe0.10O3−δ at room temperature. The ferromagnetism is attributed to the substitution of Fe-ions in Eu2O3, which is successfully explained by the bound-magnetic-polaron model.