Novel multiferroic nanoparticles Sm1−xHoxFeO3 as a heavy metal Cr6+ ion removal from water

Novel multiferroic nanoparticles Sm1−xHoxFeO3 have been prepared using a simple citrate auto-combustion method. According to the X-ray diffraction (XRD) data, the multiferroic samples had an orthorhombic single phase structure. The field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) illustrated that the nanoparticles possessed a cotton-like morphology with a porous nature. The vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) demonstrates the antiferromagnetic (AFM) behavior of the samples. The maximum magnetization (Mm) of Sm0.95Ho0.05FeO3 is five times greater than that of SmFeO3. The ferroelectricity of Sm1−xHoxFeO3 has Г2-spin structure. The antiferromagnetic (AFM) spin canting has a great effect on both the magnetization and the ferroelectricity of the investigated perovskites. Sm1−xHoxFeO3; 0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.10 samples are concluded to be novel single-phase multiferroic materials capable of adsorbing toxic chromium (Cr6+) metal ions from water. A hydrogen potential of pH 6 is the best condition for precipitating chromium ions. The adsorption of Cr6+ ions on Sm1−xHoxFeO3 was studied using the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models.