Low-frequency dielectric dispersion and magnetic properties of La, Gd modified Pb(Fe1/2Ta1/2)O3 multiferroics

Pb(Fe1/2Ta1/2)O-3 (PFT) modified by rare-earth (La and Gd) ions has been synthesized in a single phase using a double-stage synthesis (i.e., Columbite) technique. Scanning electron micrographs (SEM) of the pellet samples have shown a significant change in their grain size and uniform distribution of Gd/La at the Fe-sites. The room temperature X-ray structural analysis shows that the reported cubic (or tetragonal) structure of PFT has been distorted to a monoclinic system on substitution of La/Gd at the Fe-site. Detailed studies of dielectric properties of the above compound on La/Gd substitution have shown strong dielectric dispersion at low frequency (i.e. relaxor behavior) with drastic change in transition temperature. Magnetic characterization shows that though the PFT sample displays an antiferromagnetic transition at similar to 150 K, the rare-earth ions-substituted samples do not. Furthermore, temperature dependence of magnetization measurements shows that spin glass transition observed in PFT at low temperatures (5-20 K) does not exist in the La and Gd substituted PFT. Doping of Gd in PFT increases the sample magnetization, especially at low temperature. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.