The Study of Magnetic Properties for Non-Magnetic Ions Doped BiFeO3

BiFeO3 is considered as a single phase multiferroic. However, its magnetism is very weak. We study the magnetic properties of BiFeO3 by Cu and (Cu, Zn). Polycrystalline samples Bi(Fe0.95Cu0.05)O-3 and BiFe0.95(Zn0.025Cu0.025)O-3 are prepared by the sol-gel method. The magnetic properties of BiFe0.95(Zn0.025Cu0.025)O-3 are greater than that of BiFeO3 and Bi(Fe0.95Cu0.05)O-3. The analyses of X-ray absorption fine structure data show that the doped Cu atoms well occupy the sites of the Fe atoms. X-ray absorption near edge spectra data confirm that the valence state of Fe ions does not change. Cu and Zn metal ion co-doping has no impact on the local structure of the Fe and Bi atoms. The modification of magnetism by doping Zn can be understood by the view of the occupation site of non-magnetically active Zn2+.

Automated summary

In this study, the magnetic properties of BiFeO3 were investigated by doping Cu and (Cu, Zn). It was found that doping Zn can enhance the magnetism, while co-doping Cu and Zn has no impact on the local structure of Fe and Bi atoms. The results suggest that the modification of magnetism by doping Zn can be explained by the occupation site of non-magnetically active Zn2+.