# Characteristics of novel magnetic nanocomposites based on samarium orthoferrite

## TL;DR

This study creates and analyzes new magnetic nanocomposites using samarium orthoferrite and various metal ferrites, examining their structure, properties, and magnetic behavior.

## Contribution

The paper introduces novel magnetic nanocomposites with confirmed two-phase structures and explores their ferromagnetic and optical properties.

## Key findings

- The nanocomposites exhibit nanoscale dimensions (17–92 nm) and two-phase (orthorhombic + cubic) structures.
- The band gap energy varies significantly among composites, with values of 1.18 eV for CoF/SmF and 1.8 eV for NiF/SmF.
- Exchange-coupled interactions between Sm and MF are confirmed through lattice parameters, functional groups, and magnetic properties.

## Abstract

In this study, multiferroic composites MF/SmF (MF = NiFe2O4, CoFe2O4, ZnFe2O4, CdFe2O4, and SmF representing SmFeO3) were synthesized using the sol-gel method. X-ray diffraction (XRD), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) were employed to examine the impact of SmF on the MF’s phase composition, microstructure, and degree of crystallinity. These analyses confirmed the formation of pure composites with two phases (orthorhombic + cubic), identified the chemical bonds present in the composites, and verified the nanoscale dimensions of all composites (17–92 nm). The composition element was determined through energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDXA). UV-vis absorption spectroscopy was used to assess the effect of SmF on the band gap energy of the MF, where the band gap energy of the SmF sample is 2.28 eV, CoF/SmF is 1.18 eV, and the NiF/SmF composite has an energy band gap of 1.8 eV. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, characterized by unpaired electron spins, and a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) were used to analyze the nanocomposites’ ferromagnetic characteristics. The exchange-coupled interaction between Sm and MF was confirmed by the lattice parameters and the functional groups present, as well as the energy gap for each compound and the magnetic parameters of SmF/FM nanocomposites.