Tuning the magnetic properties of the multiferroic LuFe₂O₄ by moderate thermal treatment

Abstract

In the present work we investigate the structural and magnetic properties of the pristine and thermally treated LuFe₂O₄ compounds by using the X-ray diffraction, Mossbauer and magnetization measurements. The local structural parameters and ionic states of Fe are found to be very much sensitive to the moderate thermal treatment. The M(H) data below 120 K exhibit giant coercivity and the arrested kinetics. The coercivity shows monotonic temperature dependence whereas the remanence displays nonmonotonic behaviour. The moderate thermal treatment does not have any influence on the two magnetic-transition temperatures observed in the system. However, the sharpness of the low-temperature magnetic anomaly and the strength of the antiferromagnetic interaction are found to increase.