Weak ferromagnetism and nanodimensional ferroelectric domain structure stabilized in the polar phase of Bi{sub 1−x}Nd{sub x}FeO{sub 3} multiferroics via Ti doping

Journal Article · Mon Apr 28 00:00:00 EDT 2014 · Journal of Applied Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4873121· OSTI ID:22273538

Paixão, J. A. ^[1]; Pereira, L. C. J. ^[2]

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1. CEMDRX/Department of Physics, University of Coimbra, P-3004-516 Coimbra (Portugal)
2. Unidade de Ciências Químicas e Radiofarmacêuticas, IST/CTN, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade Técnica de Lisboa/CFMCUL, P-2686-953 Sacavém (Portugal)

Crystal structure, microstructure, local ferroelectric, and magnetic properties of the Bi{sub 0.9}Nd{sub 0.1}Fe{sub 1−x}Ti{sub x}O{sub 3} samples have been investigated at room temperature to reveal the effect of Ti{sup 4+} doping on the multiferroic behavior of the lanthanide-modified compound representing a polar (space group R3c) antiferromagnetic phase of the Bi{sub 1−x}Ln{sub x}FeO{sub 3} perovskites. Ti doping results in a gradual suppression of the rhombohedral distortions, however, symmetry of the crystal structure remains the same in the entire concentration range allowing the single-phase perovskites to be obtained (x ≤ 0.08). The doping tends to reduce existing lone-pair cation-driven polar displacements, thus giving rise to a decrease of the ferroelectric polarization in the Bi{sub 0.9}Nd{sub 0.1}Fe{sub 1−x}Ti{sub x}O{sub 3} (x→0.08) series. A drastic (from ∼10 μm for x = 0 to ∼1 μm for 0.02 ≤ x ≤ 0.08) decrease of the average grain size induced by the doping is accompanied by the formation of a ferroelectric domain structure with the average domain width of ∼40 nm. Finally, the doping was shown to induce an antiferromagnetic to weak ferromagnetic transformation. The maximum remanent magnetization observed in the Bi{sub 0.9}Nd{sub 0.1}Fe{sub 1−x}Ti{sub x}O{sub 3} series at x ∼ 0.05 coincides with the locked magnetization releasing upon the magnetic field-induced suppression of the magnetic cycloid in pure BiFeO{sub 3}.

• OSTI ID: 22273538
• Journal Information: Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 115, Issue 16; Other Information: (c) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0021-8979
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY
ANTIFERROMAGNETISM
BISMUTH COMPOUNDS
CONCENTRATION RATIO
DOMAIN STRUCTURE
FERRITES
FERROELECTRIC MATERIALS
FERROMAGNETISM
GRAIN SIZE
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETIC PROPERTIES
MAGNETIZATION
NANOSTRUCTURES
NEODYMIUM COMPOUNDS
POLARIZATION
TEMPERATURE RANGE 0273-0400 K
TITANIUM COMPOUNDS
TITANIUM IONS
TRIGONAL LATTICES