Preparation and characterization of orthoferrite neodymium nanoparticles (NdFeO3) by Co-precipitation route in the presence of oleic acid as a surfactant

In this research, orthoferrite neodymium nanoparticles (NdFeO3) synthesized via the Co-precipitation method and the oleic acid )C17H33COOH) was added as surfactant to control the particles size. The spherical NdFeO3 nanoparticles with an average particles size of 28 nm were obtained in calcination temperature of 800 °C for 4h. Co-precipitation method is a simple and inexpensive method for the production of mixed oxides with high purity. The morphology, lattice parameters and size of nanoparticles of product have been studied and characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques. The XRD analysis shows only the pattern corresponding to perovskite-type NdFeO3 which crystallizes in the orthorhombic system. The average particles size of the nanoparticles was measured both by XRD and SEM and the results were in very good agreement with each other. Also, the results indicate that the amount of surfactant, pH and rate of stirring of solution has an important role in the homogeneity and particles size of product.