Tailoring the dielectric and magnetic properties of Eu-substituted BiFeO3 nanoparticles

A systematic investigation into the enhanced dielectric and magnetic properties of europium - doped bismuth ferrite (Bi(1-x)EuxFeO3, x = 0.0-0.3) multiferroic nanoparticles highlights its usefulness for device miniaturization and high-density data storage systems in nanoelectronics. The samples were synthesized by sol-gel method and calcined at 873 K. Structural characterization by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy showed the distribution of nanocrystallites with narrow size distribution and further revealed a transformation of the crystalline structure from the initial rhombohedra (R3c) to an orthorhombic (Pn21a) one. This was also accompanied by significant lattice contraction and the elemental composition for each Eu-incorporation was examined through energy dispersive analysis of X- Rays (EDAX). The EDAX studies clearly confirmed the successful and accurate incorporation of Eu3+ in place of Bi3+ and the presence of oxygen vacancies in the samples. Sample with x = 0.2 showed the maximum value of dielectric constant (epsilon') and leakage (epsilon '') as well as a.c. conductivity (sigma). Magnetic response studies reflected the enhancement of spontaneous magnetization by Eu-doping. The maximum values of saturation magnetization (M-S), remnant magnetization (M-r), and coercivity (H-C) were again obtained for the sample with x = 0.2. The studies thus demonstrate a doping concentration at which the material properties can be optimized for the best performance through substitution and size-controlled crystallization to nanometer dimensions. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Selection and peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of the International Conference on the Science and Technology of Advanced Materials.