Nickel substitution shifts magnetic interactions in LaFeO3 nanofibers

Nickel substitution shifted the magnetic behavior of lanthanum ferrite nanofibers from iron-dominated antiferromagnetism toward nickel-centered exchange, according to a materials study that fabricated five compositions of LaFe1−xNixO3 and examined their structures and magnetic properties. The researchers reported that LaFe0.9Ni0.1O3 and LaFe0.7Ni0.3O3 remained dominated by Fe3+–O–Fe3+ antiferromagnetic interactions, while LaFe0.5Ni0.5O3 displayed competition among Fe3+–O–Fe3+, Ni3+–O–Fe3+ and Ni3+–O–Ni3+ interactions. In the two nickel-richest compositions, LaFe0.3Ni0.7O3 and LaFe0.1Ni0.9O3, Ni3+–O–Ni3+ exchange dominated and the materials showed a paramagnetic state.

For this experimental study, the team prepared nanofibers with nominal compositions of LaFe0.9Ni0.1O3, LaFe0.7Ni0.3O3, LaFe0.5Ni0.5O3, LaFe0.3Ni0.7O3 and LaFe0.1Ni0.9O3. The researchers used electrospinning followed by annealing as a simple fabrication route. By changing the proportion of nickel across this five-member compositional series, they investigated how substitution affected the crystal structure and the exchange interactions governing magnetic behavior. The work was published in the Journal of Materials Science.

Rietveld-refined X-ray diffraction patterns suggested a structural transition from an orthorhombic phase to a rhombohedral phase across the nickel-substitution series. The diffraction analysis therefore provided evidence that the compositional change was accompanied by modification of the materials’ crystal structure. The reported results connect increasing nickel content with both this phase evolution and a reorganization of the magnetic interactions, although the supplied abstract does not provide a detailed quantitative comparison of the phase change across individual compositions.

After fabrication, the researchers used a Quantum Design SQUID vibrating sample magnetometer to characterize the magnetic properties of the five nanofiber compositions. The measurements showed that modest nickel substitution did not displace the dominant iron-mediated antiferromagnetism: LaFe0.9Ni0.1O3 and LaFe0.7Ni0.3O3 were both governed primarily by Fe3+–O–Fe3+ interactions. At LaFe0.5Ni0.5O3, the magnetic behavior instead reflected intense competition among iron–iron, nickel–iron and nickel–nickel exchange pathways. The abstract does not establish that this competition was the strongest possible interaction or identify a universal optimum composition.

The results at higher nickel fractions completed a clear compositional progression. LaFe0.3Ni0.7O3 and LaFe0.1Ni0.9O3 were reported to be dominated by Ni3+–O–Ni3+ exchange and to exhibit a paramagnetic state, whereas the lower-nickel samples were dominated by iron-based antiferromagnetism. Taken together, the findings show how replacing iron with nickel can redirect the magnetic interactions within LaFe1−xNixO3 nanofibers. The authors said these structure–property relationships could provide a materials-design perspective for manipulating magnetic interactions, while the reported study focused on the characterization of the fabricated compositions rather than demonstrating a specific application.

Subject of Research: Effects of nickel substitution on structure and magnetic interactions in LaFe1−xNixO3 nanofibers

Article Title: The effect of Ni substitution on the magnetic properties of LaFeO3 nanofibers

Article References: Song, C., Luo, H., Xu, J., Gan, Y., Wang, Y., A., R., & Hu, Q. (2026). The effect of Ni substitution on the magnetic properties of LaFeO3 nanofibers. Journal of Materials Science. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-026-13951-x

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: 10.1007/s10853-026-13951-x

Keywords: LaFeO3 nanofibers, nickel substitution, magnetic exchange, antiferromagnetism, paramagnetism, crystal structure, electrospinning, nanomaterials, Rietveld refinement, SQUID magnetometry, effect, substitution