Influence on properties of Bi0.9Sm0.1FeO3 multiferroic system with Mg substitution at Fe-site

Polycrystalline bulk samples of Bi(0.9)Sm(0.1)Fe(1-x)MgxO(3) (x = 0.0, 0.025, 0.050, 0.075, and 0.1) perovskite system were prepared using high energy ball milling or solid-state reaction method. The effect of Mg-substitution on the structure, magnetic, and electrical properties of Bi0.9Sm0.1FeO3 (BSFO) were investigated. The X-ray diffraction data was predicted the major phase as rhombohedral up to x > 0.075. Field emission scanning electron backscattered micrographs revealed the grains as irregular shapes along with some abnormally grown grains. The average grain sizes are obtained in the range of similar to 0.5-3.0 mu m. The vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) showed an antiferromagnetic behavior with enhanced magnetic moment up to x = 0.050. Leakage current and oxygen vacancies were minimum, and the magnetic moment was maximum for x = 0.050 compositions. The grain boundary was limited, and ohmic conductions were dominated in almost all samples. The leakage current was reduced by 7 orders of magnitude for Bi0.9Sm0.1Fe0.95Mg0.05O3 sampled than the pure BSFO ceramic. The reported leakage current value is 3.64 x 10(-7), comparatively lower than reported for thin films (8.89 x 10(-7) A/cm(2)) and comparable with samples prepared using the rapid sintering method (2.1 x10(-7) A/cm(2)). The present work provides an easily accessible way of enhancing ferroelectric properties and promising multifunctional applications and significant suppression of leakage current within bulk BiFeO3 system to withstand large remnant polarization.

Automated summary

The study investigated the effect of Mg-substitution on the structure, magnetic, and electrical properties of Bi0.9Sm0.1FeO3 (BSFO) in polycrystalline bulk samples. The results showed that for moderate Mg substitution (x = 0.050), the samples exhibited enhanced magnetic behavior and limited grain boundary effects.