Optical and magnetic properties of orthoferrite NdFeO3 nanomaterials synthesized by simple co-precipitation method

Abstract

In this work, orthoferrite NdFeO3 nanomaterials with particle sizes 20-40 nm have been successfully synthesized via a simple co-precipitation method through the hydrolysis of Nd (III) and Fe (III) cations in hot water with 5% NaOH as a precipitating agent. Single-phase NdFeO3 was generated after calcination of the as-prepared powder at 700, 800, and 900 °C for 1 hour. The UV-Vis spectra at room temperature presented strong absorption in the UV-Vis regions (l = 200–400 nm and 400–600 nm) with small band gap energy (Eg = 2.2÷2.5 eV). The obtained NdFeO3 nanomaterials exhibited a hard ferromagnetic behavior with high coercivity (Hc = 600–1600 Oe).