Multiferroic bismuth ferrite nanomagnets as potential candidates for spintronics at room temperature

Abstract

Bismuth ferrite nanoparticle (BFO) is found to be a major contributor in the field of piezoelectricity, spintronics, and ferroelectric memory devices. BFO is synthesized using a 1:1 stoichiometric ratio of bismuth subnitrate and Iron(III) nitrate nonahydrate at relatively low temperature by cost-effective sol-gel method. The morphology and chemical composition of nanopowders were studied using Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) and EDX. The phase and crystallinity were determined using X-ray diffractometer with CuKα radiation (λ = 1.54 Å). Investigation of magnetic properties was carried out at room temperature using Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM) by applying maximum magnetic field up to ± 30 kOe. The BFO exhibited rhombohedral distorted perovskite structure at room temperature. The room temperature hysteresis loop displayed the weak ferromagnetism of BFO, which makes it a potential candidate in the area of spintronics.