Tailoring the functional properties of LSMO-BTO nanocomposites: A sol-gel synthesis approach and comprehensive characterization

Abstract

In this study, the sol-gel synthesis technique was harnessed to craft nanocomposites of (1-x)La0.7Sr0.3MnO3-(x)BTO with x values of 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8. The attributes of these meticulously engineered materials were exhaustively explored using a diverse suite of characterization methods. X-ray diffraction analysis irrefutably confirmed the phase purity of the perovskite structure, emphasizing the synthesis's precision. Furthermore, Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy shed light on the optical properties of the nanocomposites, revealing a significant shift in bandgap energy that correlated directly with the BTO concentration. Specifically, an increment in BTO concentration resulted in a systematic expansion of the bandgap from 1.51 eV to 1.44 eV. For an in-depth analysis of the magnetic characteristics of the composites, Vibrating Sample Magnetometry was utilized. The magnetic analysis identified a conspicuous reduction in saturation magnetization, highlighting the complex interplay between the composite components at the nanoscale. Additionally, the dielectric properties were rigorously investigated through dielectric measurements, which unveiled a notable increase in the dielectric constant, accompanied by the emergence of novel relaxation behaviors. This finding indicates that adjusting the BTO content within the nanocomposites not only modifies their dielectric properties but also provides a method for fine-tuning their functional performance.