Magnetic properties of V2O3-Al2O3 solid solutions

The magnetic susceptibilities of dilute solid solutions of V2O3 in corundum (α-Al2O3) have been measured over the temperature range 77–500°K, and at V3+ ion concentrations from 1 to 9 mole %. Lattice parameter and optical reflectance studies confirm the existence of a corundum phase over this concentration range. The magnetic moment of the V3+ ion is lower than the spin-only value and it decreases linearly with increasing concentration. The result is explained in terms of pair-wise interactions between V3+ ions, analogous to those in V2O3. The system also shows a large temperature independent paramagnetism of ca. 650 × 10–6, which is attributed to the trigonal component of the cubic crystal field present in the corundum structure.