Magnetic properties and environment sites in Fe doped SnO2 nanoparticles

Sn1−xFexO2 nanoparticles (x = 0, 0.05, 0.10 and 0.15) were synthesized by co-precipitation. X-ray diffraction and electron diffraction images showed that only rutile type phase was present in the samples. Electron microscopy was used as a tool for revealing morphology, distribution size and structure characteristics of the nanoparticles; while Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy analysis confirmed the selected stoichiometry. 57Fe and 119Sn Mössbauer spectroscopy at Room Temperature showed a lattice disorder induced by the incorporation of Fe ions in the structure. No magnetic hyperfine ordering was detected for 57Fe probes and the asymmetry in their quadrupolar splittings is explained as a texture effect at the nanoparticles shells. Quadrupolar splitting at 119Sn probe reached a maximum for x = 0.1, being this fact attributable to a highest distorted environment. Magnetic hysteresis loops were measured at different temperatures showing, for Fe doped samples, a combination of paramagnetism and weak ferromagnetism.