Structural and Ferroic Properties of La, Nd, and Dy Doped BiFeO3 Ceramics
Polycrystalline samples of Bi0.8RE0.2FeO3 (RE = La, Nd, and Dy) have been synthesized by solid-state reaction route. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns of Bi0.8La0.2FeO3 and Bi0.8Nd0.2FeO3 were indexed in rhombohedral (R3c) and triclinic (P1) structure, respectively. Rietveld refined XRD pattern of Bi0.8Dy0.2FeO3 confirms the biphasic (Pnma + R3c space groups) nature. Raman spectroscopy reveals the change in BiFeO3 mode positions and supplements structural change with RE ion substitution. Ferroelectric and ferromagnetic loops have been observed in the Bi0.8RE0.2FeO3 ceramics at room temperature, indicating that ferroelectric and ferromagnetic ordering coexist in the ceramics at room temperature. The magnetic measurements at room temperature indicate that rare-earth substitution induces ferromagnetism and discerns large and nonzero remnant magnetization as compared to pristine BiFeO3.