Phase transformation, improved ferroelectric and magnetic properties of (1 − x) BiFeO3–xPb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3 solid solutions

• Published in: Journal of applied physics Vol. 115; no. 22
• Main Authors: Sharma, Subhash, Singh, Vikash, Dwivedi, R. K., Ranjan, Rajeev, Anshul, Avneesh, Amritphale, S. S., Chandra, Navin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Melville American Institute of Physics 14.06.2014
• Subjects: Applied physics; Bismuth ferrite; Cycloids; Doping; Electrical properties; Ferroelectric materials; Ferroelectricity; Leakage current; Magnetic properties; Phase transitions; Raman spectra; Sol-gel processes; Solid solutions; X ray spectra; X-ray diffraction
• ISSN: 0021-8979; 1089-7550
• DOI: 10.1063/1.4882067

The authors prepared (1 − x)BiFeO3 – (x)Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3 for x ≤ 0.30 by sol-gel method and investigated the material's structures, magnetic and electrical properties. Detailed Rietveld analysis of X-ray diffraction data revealed that the system retains distorted rhombohedral R3c structure for x ≤ 0.10 but transforms to monoclinic (Cc) structure for x > 0.10. Disappearance of some Raman modes corresponding to A1 modes and the decrease in the intensities of the remaining A1 modes with increasing x in the Raman spectra, which is a clear indication of structural modification and symmetry changes brought about by PZT doping. Enhanced magnetization with PZT doping content may be attributed to the gradual change and destruction in the spin cycloid structure of BiFeO3. The leakage current density at 3.5 kV/cm was reduced by approximately three orders of magnitude by doping PZT (x = 0.30), compared with BFO ceramics.