Low temperature synthesis and structural, dielectric and optical studies of Bi_1−xGd_xFeO₃ (x = 0, 0.10, 0.11, 0.12, 0.13, 0.14, 0.15) nanoceramics

Abstract

Gd-substituted BiFeO₃ (BFO) multiferroic nanoceramics with the compositional formula Bi_1-xGd_xFeO₃ (x = 0, 0.10, 0.11, 0.12, 0.13, 0.14, 0.15) were prepared by low temperature sol gel method. Phase identification of all the samples were carried out using XRD analysis. FTIR analyses showed the presence of stretching and bending vibrations of various bonds present in all the samples. Dielectric properties such as dielectric constant and dielectric loss were measured as a function of frequency and Gd concentration, wherein the enhanced dielectric properties were observed with the addition of Gd dopant. The optical absorbance spectra of all the samples were measured and the energy band gaps (E_g) were obtained from Tauc plot. Explanation of the observed results was discussed and various possible applications in real multiferroic systems were highlighted.

Keywords:

• Doping
• sol-gel
• dielectric studies
• optical absorbance

Additional information

Funding

The authors would like to thank DST GOI (EMR/2016/001348) for financial support.