Study of magnetic compensation behavior in Mn(Cr1−xFex)2O4

We report the preparation of single phase samples of Mn(Cr1−xFex)2O4 for x = 0-0.50 and study of their structural and magnetic properties. These samples are found to crystallize in cubic structure with Fd3¯m space group with typical lattice constant varying from a = 8.4396 Å for x = 0 to 8.4588 Å for x = 0.50. The ferrimagnetic transition temperature as per magnetic measurements is found to increase from 46 K for x = 0 to 402 K for x = 0.50 due to the strengthening of the superexchange interaction. The Saturation magnetization value is found to decrease monotonously with increase in Fe concentration beyond x = 0.10 and approaches magnetic compensation at x = 0.40. In addition to composition induced magnetic compensation, we have observed magnetic compensation due to change in temperature for x = 0.40 with a compensation temperature of 267 K. This is explained by considering the substitution of Fe3+ ions in one of the Cr3+ sites and the different temperature dependence of two sublattice moments.