Modifying BiFeO3 (BFO) for multifunctional applications - A review

Abstract

Through an extensive literature review the cation substitution effect on multiferroic behavior of BiFeO3 commonly known as BFO has been analyzed. A deep introspection has been made to find the doping effect on its structural, micro structural and electrical microstructure which consequently changes its dielectric, ferroelectric, electrical and magnetic, multiferroic and other properties. A systematic analysis has been made to find how the doping at both A and B site of its ABO3 perovskite structure causes a compositional driven structural change resulting in improved multiferroic properties. In this review attempt has been made to reveal the physics behind the major issues in BFO like single phase preparation, oxygen ion vacancy, leakage current, suppressed latent magnetization in spin cycloid, low value of electrical polarization, low magnetoelectrical coupling, microwave properties and how these issues have been addressed so far by modifying BFO. Many theoretical and experimental investigations on BFO, modified BFO and its composite establish a competitive mechanism due to which improved ferroelectricity is achieved at cost of magnetism or improved magnetism is achieved at the cost of ferroelectricity. Thus, the desirable multiferroic properties have not yet achieved completely to make the material device ready. Finally, a detailed analysis have been made to explore all possible applications of these materials taking into all the physical parameters achieved so far in these materials to make them truly multifunctional and on the basis of this study, we have proposed how to modify the BFO to achieve a new generation multifunctional material.