Structural transformation and ferroelectromagnetic behavior in single-phase Bi1-xNdxFeO3 multiferroic ceramics

Single-phase Bi1-xNdxFeO3 (BNFOx) (x=0-0.2) multiferroic ceramics were prepared to study the effects of Nd substitution on their crystal structure and ferroelectromagnetic behavior. Rietveld refinement of x-ray diffraction data showed a continual transformation of crystal structure from the rhombohedral structure of BNFOx=0 (BiFeO3) to a triclinic structure in BNFOx=0.05-0.15 and a pseudotetragonal structure in BNFOx=0.175-0.2. Ferroelectromagnetic measurements revealed the existence of ferroelectricity with remnant polarization of similar to 9 mu C/cm(2) in BNFOx=0-0.175, paraelectricity in BNFOx=0.2, and weak ferromagnetism with remnant magnetizations of 0.07-0.227 emu/g in BNFOx=0.15-0.2. Magnetoelectric coupling was obvious in BNFOx=0.15-0.175 near the Neel temperature of similar to 380 degrees C. (c) 2006 American Institute of Physics.