Multiferroicity in La, Pr & Sm doped Z-type strontium hexaferrite

Pure and rare earth (RE = La, Pr, Sm) doped Sr2.9RE0.1Co2Fe24O41 Z-type strontium hexaferrite have been synthesized by the sol-gel auto-combustion method. The doping effect of RE element on structural, ferroelectric, magnetic and electrical properties is examined by using the X-Ray diffractometer, Polarization versus Electric Field (P-E) loop tracer, SQUID vibration sample magnetometer and Biologic SP-240 potentiostat. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) technique has been used to test the bond stretching of the prepared samples. Maximum saturation Polarization value 0.019, 0.042 and 0.061 μC/cm2 is observed for the Pr doped sample at 10, 20 and 30 kV/cm field, respectively. Magnetic measurement shows maximum coercivity (128 Oe) for the La-doped sample while maximum saturation magnetization (67 emu/g) is obtained for Sm-doped sample. Complex impedance plots reveal the larger impedance for the La-doped Z-type hexaferrite sample with 2.59 ΜΩ bulk resistance.