Effect of Synthesis Route on the Magnetic Properties of Sm1-Xbixfeo3: A Comparative Study between Solid State and Combustion Methods

Abstract

The Sm 1-x Bi x FeO 3 samples were prepared using the solid-state reaction (SSR) and a combustion method (CM) at 770°C, exploring the effect of the synthesis method and Bi doping on the structural, morphological, and magnetic properties of the samples. Single-phase materials were obtained using the combustion method, whereas impure phases of the oxides were evidenced using the solid-state method. The Rietveld analysis of the XRD analysis at room temperature evidenced that the samples crystallized in the Pbnm (62) space group, while the lattice parameters increase with Bi doping along proposed composition. Scanning electron microscopy measurements (SEM), evidenced a decrease in the grain size of the combustion-synthesized samples by approximately one-third of the size of those prepared using the solid-state method. Magnetic measurements showed a spin reorientation transition (T SR ) in a temperature range of 350-230 K and a bifurcation between these materials comparing the ZFC and FC curves. The hysteresis loops confirm a ferromagnetic behavior with antiferromagnetic components in all samples caused by the non-saturated curves evidencing improved properties compared with the materials obtained by solid-state-method. The Bi doping improved the magnetic behavior of these materials enhancing the magnetic response at high temperatures.

Keywords: Combustion method, solid-state reaction, orthoferrite, magnetization, spin reorientation.