Exploring the Impact of CeO2 Doping on the Structure and Magnetism of Hematite Nanoparticles

In this study, Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles were doped with varying concentrations of cerium oxide (CeO₂) (5%, 10%, and 20%) were synthesized by using a microwave treated co-precipitation method and thereafter, calcined at 600o C temperature for 2hrs. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed that all calcined samples exhibited hexagonal crystalline structures, with a decrease in grain size from 60.547nm to 47.060 nm with increasing CeO₂ concentration. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy confirmed characteristic peaks of hydroxyl group at 3541 cm^-1 and 1624 cm^-1, while sharp peaks of 471 cm^-1 were identified as the O-Ce-O stretching vibrational band. The observed FTIR patterns were consistent with the XRD results supporting the influence of differing ionic radii between Ce⁴⁺ and Fe³⁺ ions. The Magnetic properties were examined through by using a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) and revealed that saturation magnetization peaked at 5% CeO₂ dopant concentration (M_s = 33.2×10^-2 emu/g), while coercivity reached its maximum at 10% concentration (H_c = 548.26 O_e). Conversely, remnant magnetization (M_r) decreased (4.3×10^-2, 3.1×10^-2, and 0.9×10^-2 emu/g) with increasing cerium oxide concentration (5%, 10%, and 20%).