Fabrication and magnetic properties of electrospun Ti0.9V0.1O2 nanofibers

Ti_0.9V_0.1O₂ nanofibers were fabricated by a simple electrospinning using a solution that contained poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP), Vanadyl acetyl-acetonate, and titanium(diisoproproxide) bis(2, 4-pentanedionate) 75 wt% in 2-propanol. The Ti_0.9V_0.1O₂ nanofibers with average diameters of 76-86 nm were successfully obtained from calcination of the as-spun Ti_0.9V_0.1O₂/PVP composite nanofibers at 400, 500 and 600°C in air for 3 h. The as-spun and calcined Ti_0.9V_0.1O₂/PVP composite nanofibers were characterized by TG-DTA, SEM, and XRD. The results of XRD indicated that the calcined samples of Ti_0.9V_0.1O₂ composite nanofibers at 400 and 500°C had the mixed phases of anatase and rutile TiO₂ structure without any significant change in the structure affected by V substitution. However, an impurity of V₂O₅ was found in the samples calcined at 600°C. Room temperature magnetization results revealed a weak ferromagnetic behavior for the Ti_0.9V_0.1O₂ samples and the specific magnetization decreased with increasing calcination temperature. The origin of ferromagnetism observed in the Ti_0.9V_0.1O₂ nanofibers was also discussed.