Enhanced magnetic response in single-phase Bi0.80La0.15A0.05FeO3-δ (A=Ca, Sr, Ba) ceramics

Single phase Bi(0.80)La(0.15)A(0.5)FeO(3-delta) (A =Ca, Sr, Ba) dense ceramics were synthesized via solid state reaction method. Structural studies through X-ray diffraction shows that all prepared ceramics crystallized in a rhombohedrally (R (3) over barC)distorted BiFeO3 structure with compressive lattice distortion induced by the rare earth (La3+) ion and divalent co-doping at the Bi-site for the Raman study. Scanning electron micrograph of the compounds showed the uniform distribution of grains on the sample surface with high density. A large ferromagnetic hysteresis loop is observed for La/Ba co-doped BiFeO3 as compared with BiFeO3 prepared under similar conditions, with saturation magnetization of 6.85 emu/g and remnant magnetization of 2.72 emu/ g at 300 K. Clear ferromagnetic ground state was observed in Bi(0.80)La(0.15)A(0.5)FeO(3-delta) and weak ferromagnetism in BLCFO and BLSFO samples. Dielectric constant and dielectric loss were found to decrease with increase in frequency for all the compounds. These improved properties of La/Ba co-doped BFO demonstrate the possibility of enhancing the magnetic applicability and makes very promising for industrial applications such as new devices in information storage. (C)o 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.