Influence of Zn incorporation on the microstructural and magnetic properties of La0.67Sr0.33Mn1−xZnxO3 nanoparticles synthesised by the sol–gel method. (2nd January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ahmed, Hilal; Khan, Shakeel; Khan, Wasi; Ashiq, M; Naseem, Swaleha
• Is Part Of: Philosophical magazine letters. Volume 98:Number 1(2018)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 8
• Publication Date: 2018-01-02
• Subjects: Perovskite nanoparticles -- sol–gel synthesis: XRD -- SEM -- TEM -- EDS -- magnetic properties; Condensed matter -- Periodicals; Physics -- Periodicals; Solid state physics -- Periodicals; Physique -- Périodiques; 530.41
• DOI: 10.1080/09500839.2018.1433883
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0950-0839

Abstract

Abstract: Perovskite manganite nanoparticles with the chemical formula La0.67 Sr0.33 Mn1−x Znx O3 ( x = 0, 0.1 and 0.2) were prepared by the sol–gel process and the influence of Zn substitution on their microstructural and magnetic properties studied in detail. X-ray diffractometry (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were employed for crystal structure determination and microstructural analysis. The results of XRD analysis confirmed the polycrystalline nature and rhombohedral crystal structure with space group R(-3c) for all compositions. SEM micrographs of the samples revealed an agglomeration/well-connected appearance of the particles. The composition and uniform distribution of all the elements were established by energy-dispersive spectroscopy. TEM images clearly confirmed an almost spherical shape of the nanoparticles with an average particle size of about 11, 14 and 13 nm for the 0, 10 and 20% Zn-doped samples, respectively. The magnetic behaviour of the nanoparticles was studied at room temperature with a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) up to a field of 1.8 Tesla. These measurements established a superparamagnetic nature with a variation in the saturation magnetization ( M s ) with Zn content.