Magnetism and temperature dependence of nano-TiO2: Fe EPR spectra

Abstract

Nanocrystalline TiO2 samples of various compositions (up to 5 at.% Fe) with anatase structure and an average particle size of about 20 nm were synthesized using sol-gel technology. The magnetic properties of nano-TiO2: Fe was studied by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and Faraday balance. The existence of an inhomogeneous magnetic state in TiO2: Fe samples of different compositions were revealed by EPR spectroscopy in a wide temperature range. The analysis of the EPR spectra in the L -, X - and Q-bands allowed us to calculate the quadratic fine structure (D, E) parameters, “axial” and “rhombic” ones, respectively. The value of D turned out to be quite small, which indicates an insignificant anisotropy, which can be ignored describing the magnetic properties of TiO2:Fe. It was shown that the temperature behavior of different separate components of the integral EPR spectra can be qualitatively interpreted in the model of coexistence in the TiO2: Fe system, mainly, dimers with a strong negative exchange interaction and isolated paramagnetic centers. No ferromagnetic state in TiO2: Fe-based samples after etching of aE-prepared state were detected. © 2021