Magnetic Relaxation in Bismuth Ferrite Micro-Cubes

TL;DR

This study investigates magnetic relaxation mechanisms in bismuth ferrite micro-cubes, revealing rapid domain-related relaxation and long-term spin glass effects, advancing understanding of multiferroic material behaviors.

Contribution

It identifies and characterizes two distinct magnetic relaxation mechanisms in BiFeO3 micro-cubes, including domain dynamics and spin glass-phase effects.

Findings

Rapid magnetic relaxation driven by domain wall movements.

Power-law decay indicates weakly interacting ferromagnetic domains.

Long-term relaxation attributed to spin glass-phase effects.

Abstract

The process of magnetic relaxation was studied in bismuth ferrite BiFeO3 multiferroic micro-cubes obtained by means of microwave assisted Pechini process. Two different mechanisms of relaxation were found. The first one is a rapid magnetic relaxation driven by the domain reorientations and/or pinning and motion of domain walls. This mechanism is also responsible for the irreversible properties at low temperatures. The power-law decay of the magnetic moment confirms that this relaxation takes place in the system of weakly interacting ferromagnetic or superferromagnetic domains. The second mechanism is a longterm weak magnetic relaxation due to spin glass-phase.