Optical, Dielectric and Magnetic Properties of La1−xNdxFeO3 Powders and Ceramics

Paweł Głuchowski,Anna Łukowiak,Karen Oganisian,Denis Alikin,Robert Tomala,Andrei Kholkin,Wiesław Stręk,Dmitry Karpinsky

doi:10.3390/ceramics2010001

Abstract

Nanocrystalline La1−xNdxFeO3 powders with different concentrations of Nd3+ have been synthesized using a modified Pechini method. Their structures were studied by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD). Furthermore, La1−xNdxFeO3 nanoceramics were prepared using a high pressure sintering technique. The luminescence spectra of the powders were investigated as a function of concentration of active dopant to check the possible energy transfers observed due to Nd3+ concentration changes. The electrical and magnetic properties of the powders and ceramics were investigated to determine the effect of Nd3+ doping on the dielectric permittivity and magnetization in the wide frequency range.

Highlights

The LaFeO3 (LFO) perovskite series have been extensively studied for their interesting physical properties and potential applications in catalysis, solid oxide fuel cells, permeation membranes, ultrasensitive magnetic read heads, gas sensors, interconnecting materials for the solar cells and magnetic memory elements [1,2]
In this work we have fabricated and characterized a series of nanopowders and nanoceramics of La1-x Ndx FeO3 doped with different Nd3+ concentration
Luminescence may be observed only for powder samples because in the ceramics, due to change of the color after sintering, emission is absorbed by the material

Summary

Introduction

The LaFeO3 (LFO) perovskite series have been extensively studied for their interesting physical properties and potential applications in catalysis, solid oxide fuel cells, permeation membranes, ultrasensitive magnetic read heads, gas sensors, interconnecting materials for the solar cells and magnetic memory elements [1,2]. One of the most studied properties of rare-earth (RE) orthoferrites, REFeO3 , is their unique magnetic responses, such as spin reorientation, spin canting, ultra-fast spins switching, magneto-optics, and magnetization reversal [3,4,5,6]. Spin reorientation is closely related to excellent coupling between electric and magnetic degrees of order, and this coupling is very important to search for novel magneto-electric multiferrorics [7]. Another interesting property of such perovskites is their use as a proton-conductive material for efficient negative-electrode for Ni-MH batteries [8]. A number of papers, related to the structural and magnetic properties of LFO, have been reported [10,11], only few present multiferroic behavior in LFO [12]

Methods

Results

Conclusion