Doping Effect of Fe Ions on the Structural, Electrical, and Magnetic Properties of SrTiO3 Nanoceramic Matrix

Abstract

In the present investigation, strontium titanate nanoceramic was synthesized by incorporating iron (Fe) ion with general formula SrTi1−xFexO3 (x = 0.0, 0.1, 0.2, and 0.4) using sol-gel autocombustion method. The effect of Fe ions on the structural, morphological, electrical, dielectric, and magnetic properties of the prepared matrix has been investigated by various characterization techniques with the appropriate formulation. The structural properties such as phase space, crystallite size (D), and lattice parameter (a) of prepared matrix are calculated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique. The functional groups were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The surface morphology of the prepared nanoceramic matrix has been determined by using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) analysis. Calculation of average particle size and diffraction patterns was confirmed by using images from transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and selected area electron diffraction pattern (SAED), respectively. An energy dispersive spectrum analysis (EDS) confirmed the compositional stoichiometry in the investigated matrix. Electrical conductivity increased the prepared sample due to the increasing in the Fe concentration and temperature. The dielectric parameters in the frequency range of 30 Hz to 1 MHz were found higher at lower frequencies. The pure SrTiO3 matrix shows a paramagnetic nature at room temperature, but for a higher concentration of Fe doping was used to observe the weak ferromagnetic nature. Therefore, due to Fe ion concentration, the properties of the prepared matrix have been completely varied and enhancement in the magnetic properties was observed.