Effects of Al doping on physical properties and photocatalytic activity of neodymium orthoferrite

Abstract

Single-phase nanoparticles of NdFe1−xAlxO3 being x = 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 & 0.5 were synthesized via sol-gel procedure. The average crystallites size of NdFe1−xAlxO3 was derived from X-ray diffraction, belong to range 56–31 nm. The morphology of the samples was investigated by Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy. Furthermore, the dielectric variations of the compounds versus frequency and temperature were measured by an LCR meter. Dielectric versus temperature curves showed that the TN values of the samples decreased with increasing Al content. Next, the magnetic behavior of the samples were analyzed by using vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), field cooling (FC) and zero-field cooling (ZFC) analysis. VSM loops illustrated that NdFe0.7Al0.3O3 NPs had a large amount of Mnet, Mr and Hc up to 0.70 emu/g, 0.09 emu/g and 0.21 T, respectively. The TSR for NdFeO3 nanoparticles was close to 163 K decreasing as function of Al doping increasing. Deferential Reflectance Spectroscopy curves were used to determine the band gaps energy (Eg). Eg values were derived being between visible up to ultraviolet. Investigation of the photocatalytic behaviors of these samples showed that the NdFe0.8Al0.2O3 had the best photocatalytic activity. The kinetic energy magnitude is discussed. [Figure not available: see fulltext.].