Spin cycloid destruction in Pr doped BiFeO3 films studied by conversion-electron Mossbauer spectroscopy

Abstract

Crystalline Bi1−xPrxFeO3 films were fabricated on Si (100) substrates by sol-gel technique. X-ray diffraction revealed a decrease of lattice constants of the doped samples evidencing substitution of Bi by Pr ions. Ferromagnetism with low saturation magnetization Ms = 1–3 emu/cm3 of the films were observed by Vibrating sample magnetometry. Systematic change of Mossbauer parameters of the films with Pr doped concentration increase were obtained by Conversion-electron Mossbauer spectroscopy (CEMS). The results of both one- and two-sextet fittings of the CEMS spectra provide evidence for destruction of the spin cycloid in Pr-doped BiFeO3.