EFFECT OF ERBIUM DOPING ON PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF LaFeO3

Abstract

Multiferroic La1-xErxFeO3 (x= 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 and 1) successfully synthesized using auto combustion sol-gel citrate method. The crystalline structure examined by X-ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis is orthorhombic. Infrared (IR) active phonons for Erbium substitution in La1-xErxFeO3 studied at room temperature in frequency range 30-1000 cm-1 via Fourier transformed infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The experimental reflectivity spectra has been fitted using Lorentz oscillator model and obtain the parameter like damping factor, optical frequency as well as oscillator strength. Real and imaginary part of dielectric constant, optical conductivity, loss function and energy band gap in addition to transverse and longitudinal optical frequency modes have been calculated by these parameters. The frequency shift has been observed with doping concentration of Erbium in LaFeO3. Optical conductivity spectra are of semiconducting type. La1-xErxFeO3 is further characterized by UV- visible spectroscopy and electrical resistivity measurements. The optical spectrum of UV-Visible phenomena exhibits typical semiconductor behaviour. Investigation shows there is a drop in activation energy of samples if doped element Er increases. The electrical resistivity trend shows semiconducting behaviour of the sample which exhibit p-type polaronic conduction.