Crystal structure and magnetization reversal in single-layered Ruddlesden–Popper CaEuFeO4 ceramics

Abstract

Magnetization reversal widely exists in ferrimagnets, which provides an opportunity to develop novel low-power-consumption memory in the future. In the present work, dense CaEuFeO4 ceramics with the single-layered Ruddlesden–Popper structure were prepared by a standard solid-state reaction process. The orthorhombic phase was determined to have the space group Bmab at room temperature. The antiferromagnetic state was observed below the Néel temperature of 338 K, and temperature-induced magnetization reversal was observed below the compensation temperature in the field cooling protocol. Moreover, field-induced magnetization reversal or bipolar magnetic switching between different fields was also observed at low temperatures. The intriguing temperature- and field-induced magnetization reversal is induced by the competition between the canted Fe3+ moment and the antiparallel Eu3+ moment induced by the Eu–Fe exchange interaction.