Structural and magnetic properties of La_1−xCe_xFe_1−xCr_xO₃ orthoferrite prepared by co-precipitation method

Graphical abstract: TEM micrographs of La_1−xCe_xFe_1−xCr_xO₃ for x = 0.0. - Highlights: • The composition of La_1−xCe_xFe_1−x Cr_xO₃ was prepared by co-precipitation method. • X-ray diffraction showed orthorhombic structure with space group Pnma. • With increasing Ce and Cr content, a decrease of the unit cell volume. • Enhancement in the coercivity (H_c) with increasing Ce and Cr content. • Reduction of M_s and M_r up to x = 0.15 and increases with further increases of x. - Abstract: Nanocrystalline orthoferrites with the composition of La_1−xCe_xFe_1−x Cr_xO₃ where (x = 0, 0.1, 0.15 and 0.2) were prepared by co-precipitation method. The structural and magnetic properties of the La_1−xCe_xFe_1−xCr_xO₃ system have been investigated. X-ray diffraction showed the formation of orthorhombic structure with space group Pnma for different compositions. With increasing Ce and Cr content, lattice parameters a and c were found to decrease while b increases, resulting in a decrease of the unit cell volume. The crystallite size was calculated from XRD data and compared with that obtained from TEM micrographs. Vibrating sample magnetometer measurements reveal an enhancement in the coercivity (H_c) with increasing Ce and Cr content and reduction of saturation magnetization (M_s) and remnant magnetization (M_r) up to x = 0.15 and increases with further increases of x. The magnetic susceptibility measurements vs. temperature showed canted-antiferromagnetic (AFM) in which the Neel temperature is increasing with Ce and Cr content