Structural, dielectric, ferroelectric and magnetic properties of Gd doped BiFeO₃

Abstract

Gadolinium doped BiFeO₃ samples were successfully synthesized by sol–gel method. The X-ray diffraction patterns show the effect of Gd doping in bismuth ferrite on structural changes as well as reduction of impurity phases. Microstructural analysis explores the morphology of pure and Gd doped BiFeO₃. M-H plot for doped BFO shows that magnetization reach the value ∼0.20 emu/g. The ferroelectric polarization for applied electric field approaches ∼0.35 μC/cm² for Bi_0.85Gd_0.15FeO_3. The dielectric data also justified that there is the improvement of dielectric properties of BiFeO₃ on doping with Gd.

Keywords:

• Multiferroics; sol-gel; magnetization; dielectric

Acknowledgments

The authors are also grateful to Principal, Hindu College, Head, Department of Physics & Astrophysics and USIC, University of Delhi, Delhi for constant encouragement and measurement facilities.