Observation of magnetization reversal behavior in Sm0.9Gd0.1Cr0.85Mn0.15O3 orthochromites

Impact of co-doping (Gd and Mn) on the magnetic properties has been systematically investigated in SmCrO3 compound. For the synthesized compound Sm0.9Gd0.1Cr0.85Mn0.15O3 (SGCMO), below the Neel transition temperature and under low applied magnetic field, temperature induced magnetization reversal at 105 K (crossover temperature) was noticed in the field cooled magnetization curve. Magnetization reversal attained maximum value of -1.03 emu/g at 17 K where spin reorientation occurred. The magnetization reversal disappeared under higher applied field. From the M-H plots an enhancement in the magnetization was observed due to Gd doping. Magnetocaloric effect at low temperatures measured through the magnetic entropy change was found sixteen times higher for this compound as compared to pristine SmCrO3 and twice to that of SmCr0.85Mn0.15O3 compound. The study reveals the importance of co-doping in tailoring the magnetic properties of rare-earth chromites.