Rare earth (Nd3+) mediated structural, magnetic, ferroelectric properties of cobalt ferrite nanomaterials for its varied applications

Abstract

The current work related to effects of neodymium ion on the structural, magnetic, optical, electronic, and ferroelectric properties of cobalt ferrite nanomaterials prepared using lemon juice as fuel. Thermal analysis shows that prepared nanomaterial is thermally stable till temperature of 500°C. X-ray diffraction revealed the single-phase Fd3m structure with a cubic-spinal phase. Williamson-Hall plot was used to compute the crystallite size which reveals with the addition of Nd3+ ions there is a decrease in size from 57 to 30 nm. Raman analysis was performed to confirm the presence of the RE Ortho phase, and with appearance of a new peak was confirmed. Grain size and surface measurement were examined using Transmission electron microscope (TEM), which revealed spherical and cuboid forms. The band gap was found to increase with the substitution of Nd-ion from 1.80 eV to 2.21 eV and 2.08 eV–2.96 eV, for indirect and direct bandgap respectively. Zeta measurements were used to assess the stability of the material in biomedical applications and show stability found to increase with substitution. Magnetic measurements show that the saturation magnetization was found to decrease from (51.26 emu/g – 30.51 emu/g) and similarly coercivity from 1326 Oe- 525 Oe with the addition of a Nd ion. The ferroelectric study also supports the change in structural parameters with Nd-ion substitution and thus the prepared materials show multifunctional characteristics. Therefore, the improved optoelectronic, magnetic, and ferroelectric properties of Nd3+ substituted cobalt ferrite highlight the new prospects for this technologically significant material obtained using lemon juice as fuel.