Enhanced magnetoelectric properties in Bi0.95Ho0.05FeO3 polycrystalline ceramics

Polycrystalline samples of Ho doped BiFeO3 were prepared by solid state reaction method and effect of partial substitution of Ho on dielectric, magnetic and ferroelectric properties was studied. High temperature dielectric results show two dielectric anomalies both in epsilon and tan delta, out of which, anomaly at higher temperature (similar to 400 degrees C) could be ascribed to antiferromagnetic Neel temperature which, is a signature of magnetoelectric coupling. The magnetic moment is greatly improved and the maximum magnetization was found to be 0.736 emu/g. Saturated ferroelectric hysteresis loops were observed for Bi0.95Ho0.05FeO3 with remnant polarization (P-r) = 1.59 mu C/cm(2), maximum polarization (P-max) = 2.56 mu C/cm(2) and coercivity (E-c) = 5.45 kV/cm. We have conducted comprehensive magnetoelectric and magnetodielectric properties at room temperature. Magnetic field induced ferroelectric hysteresis loop observed in Bi0.95Ho0.05FeO3 is of prime importance. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights