Structural, thermal, and magnetic properties of orthoferrite EuFeO₃ nanoparticles prepared by a simple co-precipitation method

In this work, europium orthoferrite (o-EuFeO3) nanoparticles have been synthesized by a simple co-precipitation method without any organic polymer gelling agent. Structures, morphologies, elemental composition, thermal, and magnetic properties of the product were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), fourier transform infrared (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC), and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The products obtained after annealing at 700, 800, 900, and 1000 degrees C for 60 min were identified as orthorhombic crystals of the perovskite structure (space group Pbnm). The crystallite size (D-PXRD = 26-43 nm) and particle size (D-TEM = 20-70 nm) increased with the sample annealing temperature. The synthesized o-EuFeO3 nanoparticles have uniform spherical shape and exhibit paramagnetic behaviors at room temperature with large magnetization, together with small coercivity and remanent magnetization. The experimental results in this work may provide fundamental support to the research and development of magnetic material.