Substitution-induced phase transition and enhanced multiferroic properties of Bi1−xLaxFeO3Bi1−xLaxFeO3 ceramics

Single-phase, insulating Bi1−xLaxFeO3Bi1−xLaxFeO3 (BLFOx, x = 0.05x=0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20, 0.30, and 0.40) ceramics were prepared. An obvious phase transition from rhombohedral to orthorhombic phase was observed near x = 0.30x=0.30. It is found that the phase transition destructs the spin cycloid of BiFeO3BiFeO3 (BFO), and therefore, releases the locked magnetization and enhances magnetoelectric interaction. As a result, improved multiferroic properties of the BLFO0.30 ceramics with remnant polarization and magnetization (2Pr2Pr and 2Mr2Mr) of 22.4 μC/cm222.4μC∕cm2 and 0.041 emu/g0.041emu∕g, respectively, were established.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/87773/2/162901_1.pd