Nanocrystalline Orthoferrite GdFeO3 from a Novel Heterobimetallic Precursor

Abstract

A single-step hydrolytic decomposition of a mixed-metal precursor (see Figure) results in the size-controlled synthesis of nanocrystalline GdFeO3 particles with high compositional and morphological homogeneity. Owing to the molecular level mixing of the cations and the preformed Gd–O–Fe linkage, the temperature required for the formation of this crystalline orthoferrite phase is much lower than that for a solid-state synthesis.