Multiferroic properties in BiFe1-xZnxO3 (x=0.1-0.2) ceramics by solution combustion method ( SCM)

Multiferroic BiFe1-xZnxO3 (x = 0, 0.1, 0.15, and 0.2) ceramics were prepared by solution combustion method (SCM). The room temperature ferroelectric and magnetic hysteresis loops shows coexistence of magnetism and ferroelectricity. It was found that room temperature magnetization measurement gives rise to the appearance of weak ferromagnetism and exhibits a superparamagnetic nature at 5 K in BiFe1-xZnxO3 (x = 0.1-0.2) ceramics. The ferroelectric hysteresis loops measured at room temperature. It shows the unsaturated behavior which indicates the partial reversal of polarization. A dielectric constant with temperature measurement in BiFe0.9Zn0.O-1(3) and BiFe0.85Zn0.15O3 samples exhibits an apparent dielectric anomaly around 350 and 300 degrees C and demonstrates an antiferromagnetic to paramagnetic phase transition (T-N) of BiFeO3. The structural study was carried out using X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern and showed that BiFe1-xZnxO3 (x = 0.1-0.2) ceramics have rhombhohedral perovskite structure and surface morphology of the samples were examined by scanning electron microscope (SEM). (C) 2011 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.