Low Temperature Complex Magnetic and Dielectric Studies on Al3+ substituted GaFeO3 Multiferroic Solid Solutions
摘要
A series of Ga1-xAlxFeO3 (x = 0, 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6) solid solutions were synthesized through the conventional solid-state reaction method to investigate the effect of Al3+ substitution on their structural, microstructural, magnetic, and dielectric properties. Room temperature X-ray diffraction (XRD) and neutron diffraction (ND) analyses confirm the formation of the non-centrosymmetric orthorhombic structure across all compositions. Detailed Rietveld refinement of both XRD and ND patterns provided quantitative insights into lattice parameters, cation distribution, and structural distortions induced by Al3+ substitution. Raman spectroscopy further corroborates the formation of the orthorhombic phase, revealing 15 Raman-active vibrational modes characteristic of GaFeO3. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs exhibit well-defined grains and distinct grain boundaries, while progressive Al3+ substitution results in systematic grain size reduction. Low-temperature (5–300 K) dc magnetization measurements, including zero-field-cooled (ZFC) and field-cooled (FC) protocols along with magnetic hysteresis (M-H) loops, reveal a clear paramagnetic-ferrimagnetic transition (TN). Notably, TN shifts toward higher temperatures with increasing Al3+ concentration, approaching room temperature. The enhancement in magnetic transition temperature is attributed to structural distortion and modified Fe–O–Fe superexchange interactions induced by Al3+ substitution. Temperature-dependent dielectric measurements exhibit anomalies near TN, indicating significant indirect magnetoelectric coupling in all solid solutions. Overall, Al3⁺ substitution in GaFeO3 effectively modulates magnetic ordering and enhances magnetodielectric coupling, highlighting the potential of Ga1-xAlxFeO3 solid solutions for multifunctional and spintronic device applications.