Rare earth Tb3+ doped LaFeO3 nanoparticles: New materials for high frequency devices fabrication

Abstract La 1− x Tb x FeO 3 nanoparticles (where x =0.00, 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, 0.08) prepared via micro emulsion method were characterized by Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR). According to TGA analysis, the phase formation temperature identified was about 989 °C. Both XRD and FTIR confirmed the orthorhombic structure of La 1− x Tb x FeO 3 nanoparticles. The crystallite size estimated by XRD was in the range 40–75 nm. The cell volume measured by XRD was found to decrease upon substitution. The general trend deviated for x =0.08. The SEM analysis of nanoparticles estimated the particle size in the range 50–95 nm. After characterization the nanoparticles were subjected to the dielectric behavior evaluation in the frequency range 1×10 6 Hz to 3.0×10 9 Hz. Dielectric parameters were decreased by substitution of La 3+ with rare earth Tb 3+ ions. The dielectric studies showed the possible utilization of these nanomaterials in high frequency devices.