Mössbauer Study of PFN Compounds as Possible Magnetoelectric Materials

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(Fe0.5Nb0.5)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.