Defect-induced room temperature ferromagnetism in mechanically milled nanocrystalline In2O3 powder

Abstract

Although bulk In2O3 is diamagnetic, recent studies reported that In2O3 nanowires and thin films how ferromagnetic behavior at room temperature due to the defects induced during the preparation. This research work shows that mechanical milling is an effective approach to induce defects in ground materials. Structural, optical and magnetic properties of as-received and milled In2O3 powders have been studied. Magnetic characterization showed that milled In2O3 for 40h became totally ferromagnetic with a hysteresis loop at room temperature; having a saturation magnetization of 0.05emu/g due to intrinsic defects induced during milling process. XRD analysis confirms the absence of any impurities or secondary phases which can induce ferromagnetism ordering.