Enhanced magnetic and dielectric properties of Gd doped BiFeO3: Er nanoparticles synthesized by sol-gel technique

• Published in: Physica. E, Low-dimensional systems & nanostructures Low-dimensional systems & nanostructures, 2020-01, Vol.115, p.113689, Article 113689
• Main Authors: Kumar, K. Sunil, Ramu, S., Sudharani, A., Ramanadha, M., Murali, G., Vijayalakshmi, R.P.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: BFO; Dielectric properties; Gd doped BFO; Multiferroics; Nanoparticles: magnetization
• ISSN: 1386-9477; 1873-1759
• DOI: 10.1016/j.physe.2019.113689

Multiferroic BiFeO3 and Bi0.8-XGdXEr0.2FeO3 (X = 0.0, 0.05, 0.1 & 0.15) nanoparticles have been prepared by sol-gel technique. The effect of Gd content (in Gd/Er co-dopant) on the structural, magnetic, dielectric, and optical properties of the BiFeO3 materials has been studied. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed rhombohedral to orthorhombic phase transition of BiFeO3 when doped with Er or Er/Gd. All samples composed of aggregated spherical nanoparticles and the size of the particles is decreased with increasing the Gd content in Gd/Er co-doped BiFeO3 nanoparticles. Energy dispersive spectra confirm the presence of all the selective elements in synthesized samples and are in near stoichiometric ratio. The Fourier transform Infrared spectra confirmed the presence of functional groups of elements of synthesized nanoparticles only. Optical properties of the samples, as studied by UV–visible spectroscopy, showed the decreased optical band gap with increasing the Gd content in Bi0.8-XGdXEr0.2FeO3 nanoparticles. The Er/Gd co-doping in BiFeO3 had a significant effect on the magnetic properties and effectively reduced the leakage current. The simultaneous enrichment of magnetic and electric properties indicates the potential application of Bi0.8-XGdXEr0.2FeO3 (X = 0.0, 0.05, 0.1 & 0.15) nanoparticles in future multifunctional devices. •Our work demonstrated a simple and effective strategy to synthesized pure BiFeO3 (BFO) and Bi0.8-XGdXEr0.2FeO3 (X = 0.0, 0.05, 0.1 & 0.15) nanoparticles (Quantum dots) via sol-gel technique with free of impurities.•Gd (0.15) doped BFO: Er (0.2) nanoparticles exhibited three times maxima of magnetization properties compare to pure, dielectric conductivity and low recombinations of photoluminescence properties observed in Gd doped BFO: Er nanoparticles.•The lower rate of recombinations of electron-hole pair was applicable for the photogeneration process and photoconductive devices.•It contributes to high efficient magneto-electronic and opto-electronic device applications.•Environmental Science: Nano.