Multiple ferromagnetic secondary phases in Fe implanted yttria stabilized zirconia

The formation of secondary phases inside yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) crystals implanted with Fe ions was investigated by means of synchrotron radiation x-ray diffraction, conversion electron Mossbauer spectroscopy, and x-ray diffraction reciprocal space mapping. Fe ions have been implanted into single crystals of YSZ(001) at elevated temperatures. As the implanted ion fluence is increased an increase in α-Fe cluster formation was observed, along with the appearance of γ-Fe and secondary phases of Fe oxide(s). The clusters are proposed to consist of a metallic core and an oxide shell. Ferromagnetic hyperfine splitting was detected by Mossbauer spectroscopy and was mainly attributed to the presence of Fe3+ and α-Fe.