Electronic and crystal structure analysis of the FeCrO3 oxide

The magnetic and electronic behaviors of FeCrO3 crystal were investigated by X-ray absorption near edge (XANES) and X-ray magnetic linear dichroism (XMLD) techniques. The measured data were compared with the parent oxides Cr2O3 and α-Fe2O3 of the compound to identify the structural and electronic change during the process of FeCrO3 structure. The electronic properties of the sample were investigated via Fe, Cr L3,2 and O K-edges. The XMCD measurements to probe magnetic properties were performed by an external magnetic field of 0.4 T. In the FeCrO3 structure, traces of the Oh and Td site symmetric local Fe3+ formations were observed. The Fe3+ ions with Oh symmetry as in the parent oxide α-Fe2O3 (hematite) were determined to have antiferromagnetic order in the structure. However, domains who have Td site symmetry with ferrimagnetic order due to the γ-Fe2O3 (maghemite) formation were determined.