High pressure bulk synthesis and characterization of the predicted multiferroic Bi(Fe1∕2Cr1∕2)O3

Abstract

Bi ( Fe 1 ∕ 2 Cr 1 ∕ 2 ) O 3 , a recently proposed candidate multiferroic perovskite, is prepared in a bulk form by high pressure solid-state synthesis. The material is isostructural with polar BiFeO3 but is paramagnetic at room temperature due to disorder of the Fe3+ and Cr3+ cations on the B site. Mössbauer and magnetization measurements show a transition to a cooperative magnetic state below 130K.