Multiple ferromagnetic secondary phases in Fe implanted yttria stabilized zirconia

Fe ions have been implanted into YSZ(001) single crystals at elevated temperatures. Depending on the fluence not only an increase of α-Fe cluster formation but also the appearance of γ-Fe as well as Fe oxide based secondary phases was observed. The clusters are proposed to consist of a metallic core and an oxide shell. Ferromagnetic hyperfine splitting was detected by Mössbauer spectroscopy and mainly assigned to Fe3+ and α-Fe.