Synthesis of pure phase SmFeO3 orthoferrites via self-propagating sol-gel combustion synthesis and study of Ce doping effect on their ferroelectric properties

Abstract

SmFeO3 (SFO) is a highly challenging rear earth orthoferrites system for future modern spintronics applications and data storage devices due to its outstanding dielectric and ferroelectric properties, among other RFeO3 members. In the present attempt, Ce doped SFO system with compositions Sm1-xCexFeO3 (where x = 0.02 to 1) is explored to reveal its structural and ferroelectrics behavior in view to check its suitability for data storage applications. The systems were synthesized by a sol-gel method based on glycine gel reaction. The structural features of the as-synthesized samples are fitted by Rietveld refinement of x-ray diffraction patterns, which confirms an orthorhombic phase with pbnm space group. Temperature driven ferroelectric properties of Sm1-xCexFeO3 (where x = 0.02 to 1) were studied. Ce doped SmFeO3 indicates a reduction in losses and leakage current by Ce doping, suggesting that it is a promising material to explore as room temperature multiferroics.