Effects of Nd, Er Doping on the Structure and Magnetic Properties of YFeO₃

Nd, Er co-doped YFeO₃ compounds were synthesized by sol-gel method. The prepared compounds were characterized by powder x-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive x-ray (EDX), and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) integrated in a physical property measurement system (PPMS-9), respectively. The results show that the compounds possess orthorhombic perovskite structure. The Y_0.5Er_0.1Nd_0.4FeO₃ compound mainly consists of five elements (Er, Nd, Y, Fe, and O) and atom ratio matched well with the formula. With the increase of Nd³⁺ doping content in Y_0.5Er_0.5−xNd_xFeO₃ (x = 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, and 0.4), the coercivity increases gradually while the saturation magnetization and remanent magnetization decrease at the same time. Introducing Nd³⁺ and Er³⁺ ions into YFeO₃ will make a change on a structure distortion, resulting in the decrease of the Fe–O–Fe angle and the consequent reduction of superexchange effect. From our research results, the relationship between the r (R³⁺) and the superexchange bond angle is different from pure-phase orthoferrites R FeO₃.