The synthesis and the magnetic properties of Gd3+-doped FexCo1−x/CoyFe3−yO4 micro-octahedrons composites

Gd3+-substituted micro-octahedron composites (FexCo1−x/CoyGdzFe3−y−zO4) in which the Fe–Co alloy has either a bcc or fcc structure and the oxide is a spinel phase were fabricated by the hydrothermal method. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns indicate that the as-synthesized Gd3+-substituted micro-octahedron composites are well crystallized. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images show that the final product consists of larger numbers of micro-octahedrons with the size ranging from 1.3 to 5 μm, and the size of products are increased with increasing the concentration of KOH. The effect of the Co2+/Fe2+ ratio (0⩽Co2+/Fe2+⩽1) and substitution Fe3+ ions by Gd3+ ions on structure, magnetic properties of the micro-octahedrons composites were investigated, and a possible growth mechanism is suggested to explain the formation of micro-octahedrons composites. The magnetic properties of the structure show the maximal saturation magnetization (107 emu/g) and the maximal coercivity (1192 Oe) detected by a vibrating sample magnetometer.