Effect of Trivalent Ho³⁺ Ion Doping on Structural, Magnetic, Optical, and Electrical Properties of BiFeO₃ Nanoparticles

Abstract

Holmium (Ho)‐doped bismuth ferrite (BiFeO3) nanoparticles are synthesized using the citrate‐gel autocombustion method to investigate their structural, dielectric, ferroelectric, and magnetic properties. X‐Ray diffraction analysis confirms the formation of a rhombohedral perovskite structure, with crystalline size decreasing from ≈14 to 7 nm as doping levels increase. Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy further validates the perovskite phase, while field emission scanning electron microscopy and energy‐dispersive X‐Ray spectroscopy confirm the nanocrystalline nature and composition of the samples. X‐Ray photoelectron spectroscopy verifies the successful incorporation of Ho3+ ions into the BiFeO3 matrix. The dielectric properties show high permittivity and low dielectric losses, while magnetic hysteresis loops reveal enhanced magnetic properties, including increased saturation magnetization, remanence, coercivity, squareness ratio, Bohr magneton, and magnetocrystalline anisotropy. These findings indicate that Ho‐doped BiFeO3 nanoparticles exhibit significantly improved electric and magnetic performance, positioning them as promising candidates for applications in magnetic storage devices and sensors.