Centimeter-size BiFeO₃single crystals grown by flux method

Abstract

Abstract A narrow part of Fe2O3–Bi2O3 phase diagram was re-investigated in order to elaborate single crystals of the multiferroic BiFeO3 (BFO). Centimeter-size single crystals were successfully obtained by flux method, and present a preferred growth direction. X-ray diffraction studied have highlighted that the growth direction is along the polar axis [111] r of the structure. The stability of BFO versus temperature (reversible ferroelectric transition followed by multiple irreversible decompositions) is discussed in the light of Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) analysis performed between 25 and 1400°C. Keywords: multiferroicBiFeO3 flux methodDSCPACS: 81.10.-h61.50-f61.05.cp Acknowledgements R. Guillot (ICMMO) is gratefully acknowledged for the four-circles XRD experiments. R. Haumont and R. Saint-Martin want to thank the Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR) for the financial supports (project “PROPER”).