Structural, Magnetic and Electronic Structural Properties of Mn doped CeO2 Nanoparticles

Abstract

Nanoparticles of Ce1-xMnxO2, (x=0.0, 0.01, and 0.05) have been synthesized by using co-precipitation method, and then characterized by x-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), near edge x-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy and dcmagnetization measurements. XRD results clearly showed that the all the samples have single phase nature and exclude the presence of any secondary phase. The average particle size calculated using XRD TEM measurements found to decrease with increase in Mn doping in the range of 4.0 - 9.0 nm. The structural parameters such as strain, interplaner distance and lattice parameter is observed to decrease with increase in doping. The morphology of Ce1-xMnxO2 nanoparticles measured using TEM micrographs indicate that nanoparticle have spherical shape morphology. Magnetic hysteresis curve for Ce1-xMnxO2, (x = 0.0, 0.01, and 0.05) confirms the ferromagnetic ordering room temperature. The value of saturation magnetization is observed to decrease with increase in temperature from 10 K to 300 K. The NEXAFS spectra measured at Ce M-4,M-5 edge reveals that Ce-ions are in +4 valance state.