Tunable Exchange Bias Behavior Near Room Temperature in Spinel Chromite

Abstract

Ni(Cr0.60Fe0.40)2O4 is prepared in single phase form by sol–gel method. Analysis of X-ray diffraction pattern reveals cubic spinel structure with \({\text{Fd}}\overline{3}{\text{m}}\) space group. As per magnetization measurements, temperature induced magnetization reversal is observed near room temperature with a compensation temperature of 366 K. Exchange bias behavior with tunable positive and negative exchange bias field is also observed in the vicinity of compensation temperature. These behaviors are explained by considering different temperature dependence of different sublattice magnetic moments and the competition between them. Furthermore, the bipolar switching of magnetization is demonstrated at room temperature.