A Novel Approach to Improve Properties of BiFeO3 Nanomultiferroics

In this study we report the synthesis of Bi1-xInxFe1-yTiyO3 (0x0.1, 0y0.05) nanoparticles by a simple cost effective solution combustion method. Pure BFO samples shows distorted rhombohedral perovskite structure with space group R3c which is also supported by Fourier transform infrared spectra study. The codoping of In and Ti at A-B sites of BFO (BIFTO) partially distorts the crystal structure, increases the lattice strain, reduces the average particle size (14nm), and increases the Fe3+/Fe2+ ratio which significantly affect the observed results. The saturation magnetization increases significantly upon codoping (4.60emu/gm) by about 12 times than that of pure BFO (0.4emu/gm). The improved ferromagnetic properties upon codoping is further manifestated in large value of linear magnetoelectric coupling coefficient (4.8mV/cmOe) which further provides an indirect evidence for the collapse of space modulated spin structure. The activation energy increases with codoping (0.68eV), although less than 1eV which indicates that the conduction is still dominated by charged defects.