Magnetic properties of ilmenite-hematite films and bulk samples

Ilmenite-hematite [(FeTiO3)1−x–(Fe2O3)x] is a solid solution system with intrinsic ferrimagnetic and semiconducting properties. Bulk ceramic samples and epitaxial thin films have been prepared with magnetization values of up to 1500G (bulk) and 700G (thin films) at room temperature. Superparamagnetic behavior was discriminated from ferrimagnetic properties using field cooled and zero field cooled measurements. The blocking temperature exceeds room temperature for samples with composition x>0.25. Using magnetic force microscopy, the domain structure in the thin ilmenite-hematite films was detected.