Enhancement of the magnetic properties of Al/La multiferroic

Nanosized multiferroic La1−xAlxFeO3 (0.00≤x≤0.20) samples were successfully synthesized by the citrate technique without subsequent heat treatment. All the prepared samples revealed single phase orthorhombic structure of space group Pbnm. XRD data revealed that the lattice parameters (a) decrease with increasing Al content. The magnetic susceptibility (χM) was enhanced significantly from 0.36 to 0.68 emu/g mole from LaFeO3 to La0.8Al0.2FeO3 respectively. The values of magnetization (M) and effective magnetic moment (μeff) were found to increase with increasing Al content. The enhancement of the physical and structural properties of the investigated multiferroic is possibly due to the changes in the lattice parameters, tolerance factor as well as crystallite size caused by aluminum substitution.

► Al/La multiferroic were prepared by the citrate method in single orthorhombic structure. ► Al3+ substitution enhanced χM from 0.36 for LaFeO3 to 0.68 emu/g mole for x=0.2. ► This multiferroic is recommended in magnetic storage media and spintronics.