The 10% Gd and Ti co-doped BiFeO$_3$: A promising multiferroic material

TL;DR

This study reports that 10% Gd and Ti co-doping in BiFeO$_3$ enhances its multiferroic properties by improving phase purity, reducing leakage current, and optimizing magnetic and ferroelectric behaviors, making it a promising multiferroic material.

Contribution

It introduces a novel 10% Gd and Ti co-doped BiFeO$_3$ with superior multiferroic properties confirmed by detailed structural and magnetic analysis.

Findings

High phase purity of the co-doped sample confirmed by Rietveld refinement.

Enhanced magnetic and ferroelectric properties observed at this doping level.

Reduced leakage current density correlates with improved multiferroic performance.

Abstract

In this investigation, undoped BiFeO$_3$, Gd doped Bi$_{0.9}$Gd$_{0.1}$FeO$_3$, and Gd-Ti co-doped Bi$_{0.9}$Gd$_{0.1}$Fe$_{1-x}$Ti$_x$O$_3$ (x = 0.10, 0.20) materials were synthesized to report their multiferroic properties. The structural analysis and phase identification of these multiferroic ceramics were performed using Rietveld refinement. The Rietveld analysis has confirmed the high phase purity of the 10% Gd-Ti co-doped Bi$_{0.9}$Gd$_{0.1}$Fe$_{0.9}$Ti$_{0.1}$O$_3$ sample compared to that of other compositions under investigation. The major phase of this particular composition is of rhombohedral \textit{R3c} type structure (wt% $>99\%$) with negligible amount of impurity phases. In terms of characterization, we address magnetic properties of this co-doped ceramic system by applying substantially higher magnetic fields than that applied in previously reported investigations. The dependence of temperature and maximum applied magnetic fields on their magnetization behavior have also been investigated. Additionally, the leakage current density has been measured to explore its effect on the ferroelectric properties of this multiferroic system. The outcome of this investigation suggests that the substitution of 10% Gd and Ti in place of Bi and Fe, respectively, in BiFeO$_3$ significantly enhances its multiferroic properties. The improved properties of this specific composition is associated with homogeneous reduced grain size, significant suppression of impurity phases and reduction in leakage current density which is further asserted by polarization vs. electric field hysteresis loop measurements.