Structural and Ferroic Properties of La, Nd, and Dy Doped BiFeO₃ Ceramics

Abstract

Polycrystalline samples of Bi 0.8 RE 0.2 FeO 3 ( RE = La, Nd, and Dy) have been synthesized by solid-state reaction route. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns of Bi 0.8 La 0.2 FeO 3 and Bi 0.8 Nd 0.2 FeO 3 were indexed in rhombohedral ( R 3 c ) and triclinic ( P 1) structure, respectively. Rietveld refined XRD pattern of Bi 0.8 Dy 0.2 FeO 3 confirms the biphasic ( Pnma + R 3 c space groups) nature. Raman spectroscopy reveals the change in BiFeO 3 mode positions and supplements structural change with RE ion substitution. Ferroelectric and ferromagnetic loops have been observed in the Bi 0.8 RE 0.2 FeO 3 ceramics at room temperature, indicating that ferroelectric and ferromagnetic ordering coexist in the ceramics at room temperature. The magnetic measurements at room temperature indicate that rare-earth substitution induces ferromagnetism and discerns large and nonzero remnant magnetization as compared to pristine BiFeO 3 .