Multiferroic properties and dielectric relaxation of BiFeO3/Bi3.25La0.75Ti3O12 double-layered thin films

BiFeO3 (BFO)/Bi3.25La0.75Ti3O12 (BLT) films were prepared on (111) Pt/Ti/SiO2/Si substrates via metal organic decomposition method. The multiferroic and dielectric properties of the films were studied. It was found that the ferroelectric polarization and dielectric constant of the films were enhanced by introducing BLT as a barrier layer between BFO and Pt bottom electrode, while the ferromagnetism of BFO was not influenced. More interestingly, the films showed dielectric relaxor behavior, and the possible causes of which were discussed. (c) 2007 American Institute of Physics.