Control of multiferroic features in BiFeO3 nanoparticles by facile synthetic parameters

Control of physical properties in BiFeO3 nanoparticles via Sm3+ and Co2+ ion doping

“…The thermal behaviour of the as-prepared, non-calcined, BFO, Sm-BFO and Co-BFO powders is investigated by differential thermal analysis (DTA) in the temperature range of 350 °C-850 °C, as presented in figure 1. The exothermic peaks located at 460 °C-490 °C are correspondent to the crystallization of both pure and doped BFO powders [13,15,16]. Indicatively, the crystallization temperature of BFO was found to be at 467 °C, whereas the respective temperature of Sm-BFO was slightly increased up to 482 °C.…”

“…Figure 2 demonstrates the respective spectra in the wavenumber range of 2000-400 cm −1 . The absorbance peaks at around 440 cm −1 and 530 cm −1 , for all the samples, are assigned to the O-Fe-O bending vibration and Fe-O stretching of the octahedral FeO 6 group in the perovskite lattice, respectively, indicating the formation of the perovskite with the R3c space group symmetry [13]. Another Fe-O peak at around 815 cm −1 denotes the formation of highly crystalline BFO phase [20].…”

“…Another Fe-O peak at around 815 cm −1 denotes the formation of highly crystalline BFO phase [20]. Additionally, the stretching vibrations of -NO 3 ions at around 1390 cm −1 and 845 cm −1 , mostly observed in the spectra of BFO and Sm-BFO NPs, disclose the presence of trapped nitrates [13]. Finally, the band observed at around 1630 cm −1 is attributed to -OH vibrations [15,22].…”

“…Nanocrystalline BFO, Sm-BFO and Co-BFO powders were prepared by a simple chemical co-precipitation method, as described in our previous studies [11,13]. For Sm-BFO and Co-BFO samples, appropriate amounts of Sm(NO 3 ) 3 •6H 2 O (Acros Organics, 99.9%) and Co(NO 3 ) 2 •6H 2 O (VWR Chemicals, 99.0%), respectively, were used for the synthesis of the doped nanoparticles under study.…”

“…7% is observed (figure S1(a)), which is attributed to the loss of absorbed water due to humidity, with two maxima of mass loss rate at 99 °C and 151 °C (figure S1(b)), and the decomposition of hydrates and nitrates, with a mass loss rate maximum at ca. 230 °C-280 °C (figure S1(b)) [13,15,21]. The second mass loss of ca.…”