Structure, ferroelectric properties, and magnetic properties of the La-doped bismuth ferrite

Authors

Zhenxiang Cheng, University of WollongongFollow
Aihua Li, University of WollongongFollow
Xiaolin Wang, University of WollongongFollow
S X. Dou, University of WollongongFollow
Kiyoshi Ozawa, National Institute for Materials Science, JapanFollow
Hideo Kimura, National Institute For Materials Science, Japan
S Zhang, Pennsylvania State University, USA
Thomas R. Shrout, Pennsylvania State University, USA

RIS ID

26451

Publication Details

Cheng, Z, Li, A, Wang, P, Dou, S, Ozawa, K, Kimura, H, Zhang, S & Shrout, T (2008), Structure, ferroelectric properties, and magnetic properties of the La-doped bismuth ferrite, In 52nd Annual Conference on Magnetism and Magnetic Materials, NOV 05-09, 2007, Tampa, FL, USA, Journal of Applied Physics, 103(7), pp. 07E507-1-07E507-3.

Abstract

Bi_1-xLa_xFeO₃ ceramics with x=0, 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3 have been synthesized by solid state reaction, starting from metal oxides. A series of structure transformations is found to depend upon the doping level. Below 10% La doping, Bi_1-xLa_xFeO₃ maintains the rhombohedral structure of BiFeO₃. However, for Bi_0.8La_0.2FeO₃ and Bi_0.7La_0.3FeO₃, the structures change to the orthorhombic and tetragonal, respectively. La doping significantly reduces electric leakage and leads to successful observation of electrical polarization hysteresis loops. Doping with La also enhances the ferromagnetic moment, due to the broken cycloid spin structure caused by the changes in the crystalline structure.