Effect of Ba ions substitution on multiferroic properties of BiFeO₃ perovskite

Abstract

Abstract Dielectric, magnetic and ferroelectric properties of Bi 1‐x Ba x FeO 3 (x = 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3) synthesized by solid state reaction method are reported. X‐ray diffraction pattern showed that Bi 1‐x Ba x FeO 3 was single phase. Ba substitution has led to a decrease in grain size and hence an increase in the electrical resistivity. The variation of dielectric constant and loss has been studied over a frequency range of 1 kHz – 2 MHz at room temperature. Ba doping leads to effective suppression of the spiral spin structure of BiFeO 3 , resulting in the appearance of net magnetization. Improved multiferroic properties of Bi 0.8 Ba 0.2 FeO 3 ceramic with remnant magnetization and polarization 0.093 emu/g and 0.808 µC/cm 2 , respectively, were obtained. The evidence of ferromagnetism and ferroelectric hysteresis loops in Bi 1‐x Ba x FeO 3 system at room temperature makes it a good candidate for potential applications. (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)