Magnetic properties of Al2O3–Cr2O3 solid solutions

Solid solution ceramics (Al2O3)x(Cr2O3)1−x with different x in the range of 0 < x < 1 were synthesized via traditional ceramic production method. X-ray diffraction results and Rietveld refinements indicated that all samples possessed rhomb-centered structure and continuous solid solutions were synthesized. The samples were composed of irregular grains with several micrometers in diameter. Temperature dependence of magnetization measurements showed monotonous decreasing Néel temperature with increasing x and percolation effect happened with threshold of x = 0.65. As x became higher, weak ferromagnetism was observed in the samples. Field dependence of magnetization measurements further confirmed the weak ferromagnetism in the samples with x = 0.7, 0.8 and 0.9.

► In this study we synthesized high quality (Al2O3)x(Cr2O3)1−x solid solutions. ► We have found linear variation of the lattice constants a and c with increasing x. ► We have found linear variation of the Néel temperature with increasing x. ► We have found ferromagnetism in the samples with x higher than 0.6.