Effect of Dy-substitution on the structural, vibrational, and multiferroic properties of BiFeO3 nanoparticles

Dysprosium (Dy) modified BiFeO3 [Bi1-xDyxFeO3 (x = 0.05, 0.10, and 0.15)] nanoparticles have been synthesized by a low temperature co-precipitation method. Rietveld analysis of X-ray diffraction data reveals a transformation from rhombohedral structure to orthorhombic structure with increase in the Dy concentration. From the transmission electron microscopy analysis, it is observed that the particle sizes of Bi1-xDyxFeO3 (x 0.05, 0.10, and 0.15) nanoparticles range between 50-70, 40-50, and 30-50 nm, respectively. Raman spectra of Bi1-xDyxFeO3 (x = 0.05) belonging to rhombohedral (R3c) structure show 4A(1) and 7E fundamental Raman modes in the range of 100-650 cm(-1) and two-phonon scattering modes such as 2A(4) (longitudinal optical), 2E8 (transverse optical (TO)), and 2E(9) (TO) in the range of 950-1270 cm(-1). Suppression, broadening, and shifting of Raman modes have been observed with further increase in Dy concentration. The fundamental Raman modes of Bi1-xDyxFeO3 (x = 0.15) are assigned under orthorhombic (pnma) rather than rhombohedral (R3c) as the Rietveld analysis of X-ray diffraction data predicts a structural transformation for this particular composition. A complete suppression of two phonon modes has been noticed for this composition. An anomaly in the temperature dependent dielectric studies has been observed in all the samples at the vicinity of Neel temperature indicating a magnetic ordering, and an increase in magnetization with increase of Dy concentration in BiFeO3 is noticed from the room temperature magnetic studies. P-E hysteresis loop studies show a decrease of remnant polarization (P-r) with the increase in Dy concentration and disappearance of hysteresis loop occurs for Bi1-xDyxFeO3 (x = 0.15) depicting a transformation from non-centrosymmetric (R3c) to centrosymmetric (Pnma) system. (C) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC.