Synchrotron radiation X-ray absorption fine structure and magnetization improvement of A-site Ce3+ doped LaFeO3

Abstract

Synchrotron radiation (SR) is an interesting tool for probing the properties of the matter in various domains such as nanotechnology, energy materials, catalysis and the cultural heritage. Herein, we synthesized nanomultiferroic samples La1−xCexFeO3 (0.00 ≤ x ≤ 0.15) using auto combustion method and glycine as a fuel. The magnetic behavior was studied and interrelated with the results of synchrotron radiation X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) spectroscopy for better understanding the compositional-dependent fine local structures of A-site (Ce3+) doped LaFeO3 nanomultiferroic. The crystallinity and phase formation of the samples of perovskite structure were confirmed by XRD technique. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) revealed the formation of homogenous porous morphology in the prepared nanomultiferroic. The collected XAFS signals at Fe K- edge (7112 eV) and La L3- edge (5483 eV) are analyzed, fitted, and refined in both the XANES and EXAFS regions. All obtained results are correlated in order to help in the interpretation of the magnetic character of nanocrystallite La1−xCexFeO3 (0.00 ≤ x ≤ 0.15). It was observed that there is a magnetization improvement in Ce3+ doped LaFeO3 samples where the molar magnetic susceptibility (χM) increased upon Ce3+ doping. The characteristics of the improved magnetic nanomultiferroic hand in hand with its distinguished morphology recommend it in multifunctional applications such as catalysts and/or γ-radiation dosimetry purposes.