Structural, dielectric and magnetic properties of Pr substituted Bi 1− xPr xFeO 3 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.15) multiferroic compounds

Abstract

Here we report the structural, dielectric, electric polarization and magnetic properties of Bi 1− x Pr x FeO 3 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.15) ceramic compounds. The samples have been synthesized by conventional solid state reaction method at 815 °C and it was observed that they crystallize in the rhombohedral structure. Rietveld refinement was carried out with two possible space groups viz. R3 C and P1. With an increase in Pr content the dielectric constant increases, whereas the dielectric loss decreases. Pristine and substituted BiFeO 3 compounds exhibited substantial ferroelectric polarization at room temperature. An optimum or saturation like scenario was noticed with x = 0.12 sample. Isothermal magnetization (M-H) plots of pristine BiFeO 3 indicated weak ferromagnetic (FM) character presumably due to the presence of minute Bi 25FeO 39 secondary phase. It is also observed that the magnetic Neel temperature ( T N) increases with increasing Pr content. Interestingly, with Pr substitution at Bi-site the impurity phase tends to disappear and the antiferromagnetic (AFM) nature appears at 300 K.