Influence of divalent metal cation Zinc doping on the structural and magnetic characterization of hemataite: α-Fe2O3

•Fe2−xZnxO3 hematites are in single phase and possess corundum type structure.•The Raman spectra of α-Fe2−xZnxO3 (x = 1%, 2%, and 3%) reveal seven phonons modes.•Doping allows FWHM to increase with increased Zn doping in α-Fe2−xZnxO3.•Mössbauer spectrum of α-Fe2−xZnxO3 shows Fe is ferric in nature (+3 oxidation).•α-Fe2−xZnxO3 hematites are week ferromagnetic as compared to parent α-Fe2O3.

Divalent metal cation Zn2+ doped hemataite [α-Fe2−xZnxO3 (x = 0, 0.01, 0.02 and 0.03)] have been synthesized by ceramic route technique aimed at investigating structural and magnetic properties with corundum structure shaped α-Fe2O3. Divalent non-magnetic Zn (1%, 2%, and 3%) doping at Fe site allows all seven Raman active modes to shift to higher wave numbers. An additional feature with Eu mode (0.01 ⩽ x 0.03) appears at about 660 cm−1. Eu mode of parent hemataite is centered at about 660 cm−1 grows systematically as a function of Zn doping and it reaches a value of 662 cm−1 for (x = 0.03). The oxidation state of Fe was analyzed in terms of Mössbauer spectroscopy and observed isomer shift δ values from room temperature Mössbauer data clearly shows oxidation sate of iron (Fe) is Fe3+ (Ferric) and Zn is Zn2+ ions. A strong Ferro magnetic ordering persists up to (x = 0.02) in α-Fe2−xZnxO3 hemataite and weak Ferro magnetic ordering for α-Fe2−xZnxO3 (x = 0.03) hemataite.