Evaluating the structure-property correlation in Y1-xNdxFeO3 (0≤x≤0.15) perovskites

In the current investigation, the perovskite Y1-xNdxFeO3 (x = 0, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15) polycrystalline powders were synthesized via sol-gel technique. SEM studies of the morphological and microstructural aspects revealed an increase in Nd3+ dopant concentration resulted in grain growth reduction from 0.7 μm to 0.2 μm. A comprehensive structural analysis involving XRD and Raman spectroscopy unveiled the structural distortion from the isovalent doping of Nd3+ ions at Y3+ sites with changes in lattice parameters. The doping led to a reduction in bandgap from 2.1 eV for pristine YFeO3 to 1.78 eV for Y0.85Nd0.15FeO3. While the magnetization increased on increasing Nd3+ doping concentration, the coercivity (Hc) visibly reduced, as evidenced from the M-H loop studies. The A-B-K plots confirmed the transition from antiferromagnetic (AFM) behaviour (YFeO3) to soft ferromagnetic (FM) behaviour (Y1-xNdxFeO3 (x = 0.05, 0.10, 0.15)). In conclusion, we correlate the observed changes in optical and magnetic properties to the structural distortion.