Microstructure and magnetic studies of La1-xSrxFeO3 nano particles fabricated by the citrate sol-gel method

Abstract

The paper reports the use the sol-gel auto-combustion method for the preparation of nanocrystalline La1-xSrxFeO3 (x = 0÷0.7). The physical and chemical properties, microstructure, morphology and magnetic properties of the particles thus formed were studied. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) results indicated that Sr2+ instead of perovskite La are attributed to the lattice forming solid solution La1-xSrxFeO3, which has single orthogonal perovskite structure, space group Pnma, and does not show any impurity peaks. Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy confirmed the presence of Fe-O-Fe bond antisymmetric stretching vibration of FeO6 regular octahedron. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis showed that introduction of Sr2+ ions can inhibit the growth of size of the particles thereby forming particles with spherical shape and better dispersion properties. The magnetic properties of the sample showed that with increase in Sr2+ ion concentration leads to increase in sample’s magnetism.