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.
keywords
WEAK FERROMAGNETISM; CERAMICS; PHASE
subject category
Physics
authors
Khomchenko, VA; Kiselev, DA; Bdikin, IK; Shvartsman, VV; Borisov, P; Kleemann, W; Vieira, JM; Kholkin, AL
our authors
Andrei Kholkin
Principal Researcher
Joaquim Manuel Vieira
Full professoracknowledgements
V. A. K. is grateful to the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) of Portugal for financial support (Grant No. SFRH/BPD/26163/2005). P. B. is grateful to the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) for financial support through Grant No. SFB 491. The work was done within the EC-funded project