Mössbauer Study of PFN Compounds as Possible Magnetoelectric Materials

Abstract

In the present work, three samples were investigated as candidates for room-temperature magnetoelectric materials: pure PFN, PFN–ferrite, and Mn-doped PFN–ferrite composite. The PFN compound consists of lead,  iron,  and  niobium oxides, and its chemical formula is Pb(Fe_0.5Nb_0.5)O₃. In order to improve its magnetic properties, pure PFN was combined with a ferrite containing nickel and zinc. Mn doping was used to suppress the formation of secondary phases during the synthesis process. The samples were obtained via free sintering and examined with X-ray diffraction, Mössbauer spectroscopy, and the lock-in technique. The obtained Mössbauer spectra show the samples to be paramagnetic. However, some evidence points to an unresolved sextet at the base of the Mn-doped PFN–ferrite composite. The two-doublet model used during the fitting process shows Fe³⁺ ions to have two distinct environments. Lock-in measurements confirmed the magnetoelectric coupling in the composite samples.