Synthesis and characterization of nano-structured perovskite type neodymium orthoferrite NdFeO 3

Abstract

In this investigation, neodymium orthoferrite (NdFeO 3 ) nanoparticles has been synthesized through ultrasonic method in the presence of octanoic acid as surfactant. This method comparing to the other methods is very fast and it does not need high temperatures during the reaction. The spherical NdFeO 3 nanoparticles with an average particles size of about 40 nm can be obtained at a relatively high calcination temperature of 800 °C for 4 h. Also, product obtained by this method are uniform in both morphology and particles size. The phase composition, morphology, lattice parameters and size of particles in these product are characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDX). The XRD analysis reveals only the pattern corresponding to perovskite type NdFeO 3 which crystallizes in the orthorhombic structure. Energy dispersive X-ray analysis confirms the elemental compositions of the synthesized material.