Synthesis and ferroic and multiferroic studies on Bi1-xNdxFe0.99Co0.01O3 compositions

The magnetoelectric materials have been being studied due to the scientific chalenges and the very promissing possibility of applications in electronic devices. BiFeO3 is room temperature single-phase multiferroic material. However there are some issues regarding conductivity and undesired parasitic phases that cause the experimentally reduced electrical polarization and low or no net magnetization in this material. In order to solve these questions we studied the effect of partial replacement of Bi3+ by Nd3+ in the Bi1-xNdxFe0.99Co0.01O3 compositions. X-ray diffraction patterns confirmed single phased rhombohedrally distorted perovskite structure in obtained ceramics. Scanning electron microscopy images reveal that the ceramic grains are almost irregular spheres with a 2 mu m in diameter, and samples present equal porosity. With the increasing of the Nd3+ substitution the real part of the dielectric constant increased in almost 10 times but decreases the magnetization. As a consequence, the Bi1-xNdxFe0.99Co0.01O3 ceramics presented an induced magnetoelectric voltage and magnetodielectric effects.