Magnetic structures of FeTiO{sub 3}-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} solid solution thin films studied by soft X-ray magnetic circular dichroism and ab initio multiplet calculations
- Department of Material Chemistry, Kyoto University, Nishikyo, Kyoto 615-8510 (Japan)
- Fukui Institute for Fundamental Chemistry, Kyoto University, Sakyo, Kyoto 606-8103 (Japan)
- Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Meguro, Tokyo 153-8505 (Japan)
- Department of Material Science and Engineering, Kyoto University, Sakyo, Kyoto 606-8501 (Japan)
- Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute, SPring-8, Sayo, Hyogo 679-5198 (Japan)
- Japan Atomic Energy Agency, SPring-8, Sayo, Hyogo 679-5148 (Japan)
The solid solutions between ilmenite (FeTiO{sub 3}) and hematite (α-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3}) have recently attracted considerable attention as a spintronic material due to their interesting magnetic and electrical properties. In this study, the electronic and magnetic structures of epitaxially grown 0.6FeTiO{sub 3}·0.4Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} solid solution thin films were investigated by combining x-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES), x-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) for two different crystallographic projections, and first-principles theoretical calculations. The Fe L-edge XANES and XMCD spectra reveal that Fe is in the mixed-valent Fe{sup 2+}–Fe{sup 3+} states while Fe{sup 2+} ions are mainly responsible for the magnetization. Moreover, the experimental Fe L-edge XANES and XMCD spectra change depending on the incident x-ray directions, and the theoretical spectra explain such spectral features. We also find a large orbital magnetic moment, which can originate the magnetic anisotropy of this system. On the other hand, although the valence state of Ti was interpreted to be 4+ from the Ti L-edge XANES, XMCD signals indicate that some electrons are present in the Ti-3d orbital, which are coupled antiparallel to the magnetic moment of Fe{sup 2+} ions.
- OSTI ID:
- 22257721
- Journal Information:
- Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 104, Issue 11; Other Information: (c) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0003-6951
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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