Nanotechnology and nanomaterials

Synthesis and characterization of LuFeO3 nanoparticles
Gong Zhiwei1, Liedienov N.A.1,2, Pashchenko A.V.1,2, Li Quanjun1, Fesych I.V.3, Levchenko G.G.1,2
1 State Key Laboratory of Superhard Materials, International Center of Future Science of Jilin University. Qianjin Street, 2699, Changchun-130012, China.
E-mail: nikita.ledenev.ssp@gmail.com
2 Donetsk Institute for Physics and Engineering named after O.O. Galkin, NASU. Prospect Nauki, 46, Kyiv-03028, Ukraine.
3 Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. Volodymyrska Street, 60, Kyiv-01033, Ukraine.

In recent years, the ferroelectric materials have attracted much attention in the theory and experiments due to their promising applications in memory storage, sensors, microelectronic and spintronic devices [1]. LuFeO3 can crystallize in both orthorhombic and hexagonal structures. In our work, we discuss the synthesis and characterization of o-LuFeO3 nanoparticles. Single-phase LuFeO3 was prepared using sol-gel auto-combustion method at additional synthesis temperature of 1000 ℃. Structure, phase composition, morphology, polarization and magnetic properties of LuFeO3 have been investigated by XRD, SEM, EDS, TEM, ferroelectric and magnetic methods. According to XRD, the LuFeO3 nanopowder can be indexed to the pure orthorhombic Pbnm perovskite structure with the lattice parameters of a = 5.21332(5) Å, b = 5.55150(5) Å, c = 7.56236 (6) Å and V = 218.868 Å3 (Z = 4). According to SEM and TEM studies, the LuFeO3 sample consists of fiber-like nanoparticles. Additionally, based on the EDS data, the chemical composition of the LuFeO3 powder is confirmed and approximately corresponds to stoichiometric ratio with Lu (19.63 at.%), Fe (21.36 at.%) and O (59.01 at.%). The P-E loops show ferroelectricity of LuFeO3 at room temperature with the highest value of maximum polarization P ≈ 2 μC/cm2 at U = 150 V and remnant polarization Pr = 0.4 μC/cm2. The M-H loops exhibit weak ferromagnetism of LuFeO3 at 2, 77, 300 and 400 K under 7 T. Blocking temperature of ~ 151 K at H = 100 Oe was obtained using ZFC-FC curves. The obtained results show coexistence of ferroelectricity and ferromagnetism in the o-LuFeO3 that opens up wide prospects for its practical use.

1.	Chowdhury U., Goswami S., et al. Room temperature multiferroicity in orthorhombic LuFeO3 // Appl Phys Lett.-2014.-105(5).-P. 321.