Origin of ferromagnetism in iron implanted rutile single crystals

57Fe doped titanium oxide monocrystals, prepared by ion implantation at different temperatures and subsequent thermal treatment, were characterized by conversion electron Mössbauer spectroscopy, synchrotron radiation x-ray diffraction and superconducting quantum interference device magnetometry. After implantation at 240 K and room temperature Fe is present in divalent state. Upon annealing in high vacuum Fe2+ is reduced to metallic Fe, while during annealing on air Fe2+ is oxidized to Fe3+. After implantation at 623 K most iron is in metallic state. During annealing on air Fe is gradually oxidized from Fe2+ to Fe3+.
Depending on preparation conditions and thermal treatment the role of different nanosized secondary phases is discussed in terms of their influence on the magnetic properties of Fe:TiO2. α-Fe nanoparticles are found to be responsible for ferromagnetism observed in TiO2.