Citrate-gel synthesis and characterization of yttrium-doped multiferroic BiFeO3

Perovskite Bi1-x Y (x) FeO3 (0.0 a parts per thousand currency sign x a parts per thousand currency sign 0.1) oxides were prepared by a citrate-gel method. The crystal structure examined by X-ray powder diffraction indicates that the samples were single-phase and crystallize in a rhombohedral (space group, R-3c no. 161) structure. The structural phase transition from rhombohedral to orthorhombic phase was observed at x = 0.10. Increase in magnetization was observed as a result of Y doping. The optical band-gap of (Bi, Y)FeO3 materials were determined. The observed increase in magnetization and low band-gap of (Bi, Y)FeO3 ceramics position them for potential magenotoelectric and photocatalytic applications, respectively.