Saturation magnetization and band gap tuning in BiFeO$_3$ nanoparticles via co-substitution of Gd and Mn

Abstract

In this investigation, Gd and Mn co-doped Bi$_{0.85}$Gd$_{0.15}$Fe$_{1-x}$Mn$_x$O$_3$ (x=0.0-0.15) nanoparticles have been prepared to report the influence of co-substitution on their structural, optical, magnetic and electrical properties. Due to simultaneous substitution of Gd and Mn in BiFeO$_3$, the crystal structure has been modified from rhombohedral (R3c) to orthorhombic (Pn21a) and the Fe-O-Fe bond angle and Fe-O bond length have been changed. For Mn doping up to 10 % in Bi$_{0.85}$Gd$_{0.15}$Fe$_{1-x}$Mn$_x$O$_3$ nanoparticles, the saturation magnetization (Ms) has been enhanced significantly, however, for a further increase of doping up to 15 %, the Ms has started to reduce again. The co-substitution of Gd and Mn in BiFeO$_3$ nanoparticles also demonstrates a strong reduction in the optical band gap energy and electrical resistivity compared to that of undoped BiFeO$_3$.