Magnetocapacitance and Magnetic Properties of Cr³+ Ions Doped Hematite Prepared by Sol-Gel Method at Room Temperature

Hematite (α-Fe₂O₃) and 5 mol.% Cr³⁺ ions doped hematite were synthesized by sol gel method. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns of powder calcined at 500 °C show the formation of single-phase rhombohedral structure. Thermogravimetric (TG) analysis of as prepared powder indicates the formation of sample around 400 °C. FESEM analysis shows grain size of sintered pellets ~ 100 nm. Magnetization of hematite powders was found to be higher compared with Cr³⁺ ions doped hematite at the same magnetic field (10 kOe). We observed magnetocapacitance in both the systems at room temperature. As neither hematite nor Cr³⁺ ions doped hematite is multiferroic material, the observed magnetodielectric property is believed to arise from extrinsic effect such as magnetoresistance.