Abstract
Regularities of the structural phase evolution associated with changing ionic radius of the A-site dopants in Bi7/8Ln1/8FeO3 (Ln=La–Dy) series were investigated by X-ray diffraction technique at room temperature. A strong tendency to the structural phase separation was found. Initial polar rhombohedral R3c structure characteristic of pure bismuth ferrite is retained only for La-doped compound. For most other samples, intrinsic polar–antipolar R3c+Pnam (Ln=Pr, Nd, Sm), antipolar–nonpolar Pnam+Pnma (Ln=Gd), or polar–nonpolar R3c+Pnma (Ln=Tb, Dy) phase coexistence was revealed. Investigation of temperature evolution of crystal structure of La-doped compound performed with a neutron powder diffraction technique found that its high-temperature paraelectric phase had the orthorhombic Pnma symmetry.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
