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Title: Exchange bias effect in BiFeO{sub 3}-NiO nanocomposite

Journal Article · · Journal of Applied Physics
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4861140· OSTI ID:22271283
; ; ; ;  [1];  [2]
  1. Department of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering, Jadavpur University, Jadavpur, Kolkata 700032 (India)
  2. Material Science and Technology Division, CSIR-National Metallurgical Laboratory, Jamshedpur 7 (India)

Ferromagnetic BiFeO{sub 3} nanocrystals of average size 11 nm were used to form nanocomposites (x)BiFeO{sub 3}/(100 − x)NiO, x = 0, 20, 40, 50, 60, 80, and 100 by simple solvothermal process. The ferromagnetic BiFeO{sub 3} nanocrystals embedded in antiferromagnetic NiO nanostructures were confirmed from X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscope studies. The modification of cycloidal spin structure of bulk BiFeO{sub 3} owing to reduction in particle size compared to its spin spiral wavelength (62 nm) results in ferromagnetic ordering in pure BiFeO{sub 3} nanocrystals. High Neel temperature (T{sub N}) of NiO leads to significant exchange bias effect across the BiFeO{sub 3}/NiO interface at room temperature. A maximum exchange bias field of 123.5 Oe at 300 K for x = 50 after field cooling at 7 kOe has been observed. The exchange bias coupling causes an enhancement of coercivity up to 235 Oe at 300 K. The observed exchange bias effect originates from the exchange coupling between the surface uncompensated spins of BiFeO{sub 3} nanocrystals and NiO nanostructures.

OSTI ID:
22271283
Journal Information:
Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 115, Issue 1; Other Information: (c) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0021-8979
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English