Mössbauer study of Sn(Fe)O2 prepared by mechanosynthesis

Samples of Sn0.90Fe0.10O2 were prepared by mechanosynthesis method. The structure and magnetic behavior of the samples have been investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Mossbauer spectroscopy. It has been found that for short milling times a small percentage of the initial hematite remains simultaneously with the formation of metallic Fe. Additionally a paramagnetic contribution appears in the Mossbauer spectra. For milling times, over 2 h, the iron ions are in paramagnetic states having +3 and +2 oxidation states while by XRD only the rutile structure diffraction lines were observed.