Enhanced polarization and magnetization in multiferroic (1- x)BiFeO 3- xSrTiO 3 solid solution

• Published in: Solid state sciences Vol. 13; no. 12; pp. 2196 - 2200
• Main Authors: Ma, Z.Z., Tian, Z.M., Li, J.Q., Wang, C.H., Huo, S.X., Duan, H.N., Yuan, S.L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Masson SAS 2011
• Subjects: BiFeO 3; Dielectric constant; Ferroelectric; Ferromagnetic; Multiferroic; Ferroelectric; Dielectric constant; Ferromagnetic; BiFeO 3; Multiferroic
• ISSN: 1293-2558; 1873-3085
• DOI: 10.1016/j.solidstatesciences.2011.10.008

The structural, magnetic and ferroelectric properties of the (1- x)BiFeO 3- xSrTiO 3 (0 ≤  x ≤ 1.0) solid solutions synthesized by a modified Pechini method are investigated. Structure phase transition from rhombohedral to cubic phase was found with x increasing from the X-ray diffraction pattern. Compared with antiferromagnetic BiFeO 3 compound, BFST- x (0.1 ≤  x ≤ 0.4) ceramics show ferromagnetism at room temperature, with their remnant magnetization (M r) and coercive field (H C) strongly dependent on the content of SrTiO 3. Moreover, appropriate SrTiO 3 solution with BiFeO 3 significantly reduces electric leakage and enhances electrical polarization. Among all the samples, the x = 0.2 samples shows the optimal ferromagnetism with M r ～ 0.10 emu/g and the x = 0.3 samples the optimal ferroelectricity with P r ～ 7.3 μC/cm 2 at room temperature. [Display omitted] ► The XRD pattern exhibits a phase transition from rhombohedral to cubic. ► Leakage current is reduced， and FE property is much improved with Pr ～ 7.3 μC/cm 2. ► Temperature dependence of ɛ r is measured and peaks’ position shift with x changes. ► For x = 0.2 samples, The optimal FM behavior is observed with M r ～ 0.10 emu/g. ► FM and FE transition is correlated to structural phase transition with x changes.