Crystal structure and multiferroic properties of Gd-substituted BiFeO3

authors	Khomchenko, VA; Kiselev, DA; Bdikin, IK; Shvartsman, VV; Borisov, P; Kleemann, W; Vieira, JM; Kholkin, AL
nationality	International
journal	APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS
author keywords	antiferromagnetic materials; bismuth compounds; crystal structure; ferroelectric materials; gadolinium compounds; multiferroics; solid-state phase transformations; spontaneous magnetisation; X-ray diffraction
keywords	WEAK FERROMAGNETISM; CERAMICS; PHASE
abstract	Room-temperature crystal structure, local ferroelectric, and magnetic properties of the Bi1-xGdxFeO3 (x=0.1,0.2,0.3) polycrystalline samples have been investigated by x-ray diffraction, piezoresponse force microscopy, and magnetometry techniques. Performed measurements have revealed a sequence of the composition-driven structural phase transitions R3c -> Pn2(1)a (occurs at x similar to 0.1) and Pn2(1)a -> Pnma (takes place within the concentrational range of 0.2 < x < 0.3). The latter structural transformation is attributed to the substitution-induced suppression of the polar displacements. Gd substitution has been shown to effectively induce the appearance of the spontaneous magnetization, thus indicating a promising way for improving multiferroic properties of antiferromagnetic BiFeO3.
publisher	AMER INST PHYSICS
issn	0003-6951
year published	2008
volume	93
issue	26
digital object identifier (doi)	10.1063/1.3058708
web of science category	Physics, Applied
subject category	Physics
unique article identifier	WOS:000262225700050