Pr doped bismuth ferrite ceramics with enhanced multiferroic properties

Abstract

Pr modified Bi0.9-xLa0.1PrxFeO3 (BLPFO-x, x = 0, 0.1 and 0.2) ceramics were prepared by the conventional method based on the solid state reaction of mixed oxides and a detailed study of electrical and magnetic properties of Pr modified bismuth ferrite (BLPFO) is reported. X-ray analysis shows the formation of a bismuth ferrite rhombohedral phase. Pr doping significantly increases the resistivity and leads to a successful observation of electrical polarization hysteresis loops. All the samples have been found to possess a spontaneous magnetic moment at room temperature which increases further at low temperatures. The strong dependence of remnant polarization and dielectric constant on the strength of magnetic field is a direct evidence of magnetoelectric coupling in BLPFO-2 ceramics. © 2009 IOP Publishing Ltd.