Multifunctionality of magnetoelectrically coupled Ni/Cr co-doped BiFeO3 multiferroics

• Published in: Journal of alloys and compounds Vol. 789; pp. 400 - 408
• Main Authors: Atiq, Shahid, Fatima, Adyan, Khalid, Mahvish, Hassan, Ali, Mustafa, Ghulam M., Siddiqi, Saadat A., Naseem, Shahzad
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lausanne Elsevier B.V 15.06.2019; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Bismuth compounds; Co-doping; Coercivity; Composition; Coupling; Dielectric response; Hysteresis loops; Impedance spectroscopy; Lattice parameters; Magnetic properties; Magnetic saturation; Magnetoelectric coupling; Multiferroic materials; Multiferroics; Perovskite structure; Perovskites; Remanence; Sol-gel processes; Spintronics; Synthesis; X-ray diffraction; Dielectric response; Impedance spectroscopy; Magnetoelectric coupling; Co-doping; Multiferroics
• ISSN: 0925-8388; 1873-4669
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2019.03.058

Co-doping in BiFeO3 is supposed to be an effective approach to mediate its multiferroic characteristics, which are indispensable for its practical applications. In this regard, four compositions with general formula BiFe0.9NixCr0.1-xO3, with (x = 0.02, 0.04, 0.06 & 0.08), were synthesized using sol-gel route followed by auto-combustion. X-ray diffraction analysis of the calcined samples exhibited rhombohedraly distorted perovskite structure with increase in lattice constant. Complex impedance spectroscopy distinguished the contribution of different electro-active regions in conduction phenomena. Hysteresis loops exhibited that tuning of Ni/Cr ratio had pronounced effects on the magnetic characteristics like saturation magnetization, remanence and coercivity. An appreciable variation in magnetoelectric coupling was also observed in the synthesized compositions. Hence, this research work presents a potential to improve the magnetoelectric coupling at room temperature which have many applications in spintronics for tunable multifunctional devices. •Ni and Cr co-doped BiFeO3 samples were synthesized by sol-gel followed by auto combustion method.•Structure parameters were refined using Rietveld's whole profile fitting method.•Tuning of dielectric and impedance behavior of BiFeO3 with change of Ni/Cr ratio at Fe site.•Enhanced ferroelectric and magnetic response with tuning of Ni/Cr ratio was investigated.•Critical indicator of magneto-electric coupling was inspected.