Structural and magnetic properties of mechanochemically synthesized LaFe1-xCrxO3 (x = 0.5 and 0.75)

Abstract

Perovskite oxides with the composition LaFe1-xCrxO3 (x = 0.5 and 0.75) have been studied. The samples have been prepared using the mechanochemical treatment. A mixture of crystalline La(OH)3, Fe2O3 and Cr2O3 powders in stoichiometric ratio was mechanochemically treated in a planetary ball mill up to 40 h of milling. The mechanochemical formation of the LaFe1-xCrxO3 perovskite phase was followed by X-ray diffraction and magnetization measurements. The Rietveld refinement of the XRD data shows that the compounds crystallize in an orthorhombic perovskite structure with a random distribution of the Fe and Cr cations at the B sublattice. All structural and microstructural parameters were analyzed. In addition, magnetic measurements for LaFe0.5Cr0.5O3 show clear antiferromagnetic ordering bellow 250 K, which supports above conclusion of random distribution of Fe and Cr cations.