Abstract
BiFeO3 is considered as a single phase multiferroic. However, its magnetism is very weak. We study the magnetic properties of BiFeO3 by Cu and (Cu, Zn). Polycrystalline samples Bi(Fe0.95Cu0.05)O3 and BiFe0.95(Zn0.025Cu0.025)O3 are prepared by the sol-gel method. The magnetic properties of BiFe0.95(Zn0.025Cu0.025)O3 are greater than that of BiFeO3 and Bi(Fe0.95Cu0.05)O3. The analyses of X-ray absorption fine structure data show that the doped Cu atoms well occupy the sites of the Fe atoms. X-ray absorption near edge spectra data confirm that the valence state of Fe ions does not change. Cu and Zn metal ion co-doping has no impact on the local structure of the Fe and Bi atoms. The modification of magnetism by doping Zn can be understood by the view of the occupation site of non-magnetically active Zn2+.
Highlights
BiFeO3 (BFO) is considered a prototype multiferroic material and is probably the most studied multiferroic material as it is the most promising candidate for realizing multiferroic devices [1,2]
A small amount of secondary phases was observed in Bi(Fe0.95 Cu0.05 )O3 (BFC) and BiFe0.95 (Zn0.025 Cu0.025 )O3 (BFZC)
BFO, BFC, and BFZC samples have been prepared by the sol-gel properties
Summary
BiFeO3 (BFO) is considered a prototype multiferroic material and is probably the most studied multiferroic material as it is the most promising candidate for realizing multiferroic devices [1,2]. BFO has some inherent problems, such as weak magnetism, a high leakage current, lower magnetoelectric coupling coefficients. To solve the problem of weak magnetism, several attempts have been made by suitable modifications at the Bi and/or Fe sites substitution or fabrication of composites [6,7,8,9]. The weak magnetic characteristics of BFO are attributed to some factors, such as spiral spin structure, orientation of magnetic moments perpendicular to the rhombohedral axis and magnetic moment canting [10]. Substitution at Bi sites by rare earth ions releases the latent magnetization resulting in improvement of magnetic properties, which is attributed to structural phase transition [11,12,13]. Transition metal element cobalt has been used to dope into the Fe-site of BFO to enhance ferromagnetism, and the origin of the enhancement of the saturated magnetization is related to the occupation of the Bi site of crystal lattice [14,15,16]
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