Synthesis of HoFeO3 Nanomaterials by Citric Acid Sol-gel Method

Abstract

In this study, HoFeO3 nanomaterials with very small particle sizes (< 50 nm) were synthesized using citric acid sol-gel method through hydrolysis of Ho3+ and Fe3+ cations in hot water. Single-phase HoFeO3 was generated after calcination of the as-prepared powder at 750 and 850°C during 1 hour. The UV-Vis spectra at room temperature presented strong areas absorption in the range of 300 ÷ 600 nm with small band gap energy (Eg = 1.93÷2.25 eV). The obtained HoFeO3 nanomaterials exhibited a soft ferromagnetic behaviour with a magnetic coercivity of 33.2 OE.