Electrospun SrRe0.6Fe11.4O19 magnetic nanofibers: Fabrication and characterization

Substituted strontium ferrite SrRe0.6Fe11.4O19 (Re = La, Ce) nanofibers with average diameters of 200-300 nm were manufactured by electrospinning technology combined with sol-gel method. in the process, spinnability was conferred by the addition of poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) and acetic acid, which were used as a spinning aid. Structural and morphology investigations made by X-ray diffraction, SEM and TEM revealed that SrRe0.6Fe11.4O19 polycrystalline nanofibers were hexagonal magnetic plumbite structure. The calculation using the Scherrer's equation on the base of the X-ray diffraction spectrum indicated that the average grain size was about 30-40 nm. The magnetic properties were also investigated by the means of vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). From the magnetization hysteresis loops, by rare earth La substitution of Fe a significant decrease in intrinsic coercivity and a slight decrease in specific saturation magnetization and specific remanent magnetization were observed as compared with SrCe0.6Fe11.4O19 narrofibers. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.