The doping effects of BiFe1−xCoxO3 (x = 0.0−0.8) in layered perovskite Bi4Ti3O12 ceramics

Abstract

Bi5Fe1−xCoxTi3O15 (x = 0.0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, and 0.8) multiferroic ceramics are synthesized in two steps using the solid state reaction technique. X-ray diffraction patterns show that the samples have four-layer Aurivillius phases. At room temperature (RT), the samples each present a remarkable coexistence of ferromagnetism (FM) and ferroelectricity (FE). The remnant polarization (2Pr) reaches its greatest value of 14 μC/cm2 at x = 0.6. Remnant magnetization (2Mr) first increases and then decreases, and the greatest 2Mr is 7.8 menu/g when x = 0.5. The magnetic properties for x = 0.4 are similar to those for x = 0.6, indicating that the magnetic properties originate mainly from the coupling between Fe3+ and Co3+ ions, rather than from their own magnetic moments.