Materials Research Bulletin, Vol.44, No.7, 1522-1527, 2009
Synthesis, structural and magnetic properties of La1-xCdxFeO3 (0.0 <= x <= 0.3) orthoferrites
Nanocrystalline La1-xCdxFeO3 (0.0 <= x <= 0.3) solid solutions have been synthesized by a single-step solution combustion method at a relatively low temperature of 400 degrees C. The combustion-synthesized solid solutions were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and magnetic measurements. The crystal structure examined by XRD indicates that the samples were single-phase, and crystallize in an orthorhombic (space group, Pbrim no. 62) structure. The parent and doped compounds showed canted antiferromagnetic behavior associated with an increase in magnetic moment with Cd doping. The changes in magnetic properties of the materials are correlated to the changes in structural features resulting from the Rietveld structural refinement of the materials. (c) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.