Structural confirmation and elucidation of spectral, optical and magnetic properties of cerium doped lead hexaferrite

Cerium ion doped M-type lead hexaferrite with chemical formula Pb1-xCexFe12O19 (where x = 0.0, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3) were prepared using sol-gel auto combustion process. XRD patterns revealed that all diffraction peaks are in good agreement with magnetoplumbite mineral crystal structure. Unit cell 'c' value slightly decreases and 'a' value almost remains constant, when the concentration of Ce ion is increased. Magnetic properties were analysed using Vibrating Sample Magnetometer. It was observed that saturation magnetization (M-s), retentivity (M-r) decreases and coercivity (H-c) increases with increasing Ce concentration and the samples become more and more hard magnetic. Observed tetrahedral, octahedral and spinel block vibrations in Raman spectra establishes the molecular structure of synthesized samples. Optical transmission spectral analysis reveals that the samples are transparent in the entire visible region and the band gap are in the range 2.44-2.91 eV. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.