Origin of Large Dielectric Constant with Large Remnant Polarization and Evidence of Magnetoelectric Coupling in Multiferroic La modified BiFeO3-PbTiO3 Solid Solution

TL;DR

This study investigates the origin of large dielectric constant and remnant polarization in La-modified BiFeO3-PbTiO3, revealing magnetoelectric coupling and inhomogeneities contributing to these properties.

Contribution

It provides detailed structural, dielectric, and magnetic analysis demonstrating the coexistence of large dielectric response and magnetoelectric coupling in a specific multiferroic solid solution.

Findings

Large dielectric constant and remnant polarization observed near T_c^{FE}

Magnetoelectric coupling detected around 170 K

Inhomogeneities at grain boundaries influence dielectric behavior

Abstract

The presence of superlattice reflections and detailed analyses of the powder neutron and x-ray diffraction data reveal that La rich (BF$_{0.50}$-LF$_{0.50}$)$_{0.50}$-(PT)$_{0.50}$ (BF-LF-PT) has ferroelectric rhombohedral crystal structure with space group \textit{$R3c$} at ambient conditions. The temperature dependence of lattice parameters, tilt angle, calculated polarization $(P_{s})$, volume, and integrated intensity of superlattice and magnetic reflections show an anomaly around 170 K. Impedance spectroscopy, dielectric and ac conductivity measurements were performed in temperature range $473K \leq T \leq 573K$ to probe the origin of large remnant polarization and frequency dependent broad transitions with large dielectric constant near $T_c^{FE}$. Results of impedance spectroscopy measurements clearly show contributions of both grain and grain boundaries throughout the frequency range ($10^{3}$ Hz$\leq f\leq 10^{7} $ Hz). It could be concluded that the grain boundaries are more resistive and capacitive as compared to the grains, resulting in inhomogeneities in the sample causing broad frequency dependent dielectric anomalies. Enhancement in dielectric constant and remnant polarization values are possibly due to space charge polarization caused by piling of charges at the interface of grains and grain boundaries. The imaginary parts of dielectric constant ($\epsilon^{\prime\prime}$) Vs frequency data were fitted using Maxwell-Wagner model at $T_c^{FE}(\sim 523$K) and model fits very well with the data up to $10^{5}$ Hz. Magnetodielectric measurements prove that the sample starts exhibiting magnetoelectric coupling at $\sim 170$ K, which is also validated by neutron diffraction data.