Perovskite-spinel composite approach to modify room temperature structural, magnetic and dielectric behavior of BiFeO3

• Published in: Journal of alloys and compounds Vol. 695; pp. 3689 - 3703
• Main Authors: Gaikwad, Vishwajit M., Acharya, Smita A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 25.02.2017
• Subjects: Composite system; Dielectric and magnetic behaviour; Interfacial effect; Dielectric and magnetic behaviour; Composite system; Interfacial effect
• ISSN: 0925-8388; 1873-4669
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2016.11.367

In the present attempt, we report modified features of structural, dielectric, magnetic and ferroelectric behaviour of BiFeO3 (BFO) by perovskite-spinel composite approach. ZnFe2O4 (ZFO) is used as spinel phase. The structural measurement of composite show anisotropically compression in the BiFeO3 lattice with ZFO compositions and stimulates the variation in bond length, bond angle, tilting angle, electron density and resultant polarization. This affects on magnetic and dielectric behaviour of BFO. Room temperature magnetic measurement revealed enhancement of magnetization of BFO in composite, attributed to spin restructuring due to change in magnetic anisotropy, exchange energy and stress energy at interface with ZFO composition. There is around 7 times enhancement in magnetization as compared to pure BFO phase. Dielectric profile of composites shows decrease in dielectric constant as well as dielectric loss as compared to single phase BFO. P-E loop exhibits leaky ferroelectric behaviour of composite system with drop down in leakage current by 2 order of magnitude than pure BFO phase. Magnetic contributions of individual phases in composite are determined by Vegard Law while dielectric contributions are modelled by Maxwell-Garnett (MG) equation. The present work demonstrates that BFO-ZFO: perovskite-spinel composite approach to modify magnetic, dielectric and ferroelectric behaviour and to facilitate BFO as room temperature multiferroic system. •High-quality pure BFO, ZFO and BFO-ZFO composites system were prepared.•BFO lattice is anisotropically compressed by composite effect with ZFO.•Magnetization of the composite system is raised around 7 times as compared to single phase BFO.•The factors influencing on spin restructuring across boundaries between BFO and ZFO are speculated.•BFO-ZFO composite system has prospective to enhance functionality of BFO to be used as room temperature multiferroic.