TbxBi1-xFeO3 nano particulate multiferroics fabricated by micro-emulsion technique: Structural elucidation and magnetic behavior evaluation

Tb-doped BiFeO3 multiferroics nanoparticles fabricated via micro-emulsion route were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The fully characterized TbxBi1-xFeO3 nanoparticles were then subjected to magnetic behavior evaluation for various technological applications. The thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) conducted in the range 25-1000 degrees C predicted the temperature (similar to 960 degrees C) for phase formation. XRD estimated the crystallite size 30-47 nm, while the particles size estimated by SEM was found (80-120 nm). The XRD data confirmed the rhombohedral (space group R3c) phase with average cell volume 182.66 angstrom(3) (for BiFeO3). Various other physical parameters like bulk density, X-ray density and porosity were also determined from the XRD data and found in agreement with theoretical predictions. The magnetic studies showed that as Bi3+ was substituted by Tb3+, all magnetic parameters were altered. The maximum saturation magnetization (M-s) (0.6691 emug(-1)) was exhibited by Tb0.02Bi0.98FeO3 while the Tb0.00Bi1.00Fe1.00O3 showed the maximum (549 Oe) coercivity. The evaluated magnetic behavior categorized these materials as soft magnetic materials that may be useful for fabricating advanced technological applications. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.