Characterization and magnetic properties of LaFeO3 nanofibers synthesized by electrospinning

Ultrafine one-dimensional LaFeO3 nanofibers were prepared by electrospinning. The X-ray diffraction pattern of the LaFeO3 fibers indicated nanofibers with orthorhombic perovskite crystalline structure. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images revealed that the LaFeO3 nanofibers were composed of fine particles about 20 nm. From X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis, the chemical composition of the LaFeO3 nanofibers was confirmed as stoichiometric LaFeO3. In the results of Raman spectroscopy, a band of disordered anion lattice is observed at 653 cm−1. In spite of the antiferromagnetic nature of bulk LaFeO3, the one-dimensional LaFeO3 nanofibers obtained displayed ferromagnetic hysteresis loop, with a coercivity of 28,078 Öe and a remnant magnetization of 0.23 emu/g were obtained at room temperature. This ferromagnetic behavior is due to increasing and uncompensated spins at the surface and the canted internal spin by the tilt of FeO6 octahedral units.