On the Neel temperature and magnetic domain wall movements of Ga2−xFexO3 single crystals grown by floating-zone technique

• Transformation to softer magnets with increasing Fe compositions is evident.
• Behavior of magnetization curves reveals the movement of magnetic domain walls.
• Hopping conduction mechanism is apparent from the dielectric spectra.

Single crystals of piezoelectric ferrimagnet, Gallium ferrite Ga2−xFexO3 (x = 0.8, 1.0 and 1.2) were grown by optical floating zone technique. Phase confirmation was done by X-ray diffraction and the lattice parameters were determined via Rietveld refinement which shows a linear variation. Composition of the grown crystals was confirmed by energy dispersive X-ray spectra. Temperature and frequency dependent dielectric spectra have been used to explain the conduction mechanism in Ga2−xFexO3 single crystals. Dielectric constant of 1610 was obtained for GaFeO3 (x = 1) and increases with x. With increasing iron concentration, a linear increase in TN is observed and the crystals transform as softer magnets.