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

Single-phase, insulating Bi1-xLaxFeO3 (BLFOx, x=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=0.30. It is found that the phase transition destructs the spin cycloid of BiFeO3 (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 (2P(r) and 2M(r)) of 22.4 mu C/cm(2) and 0.041 emu/g, respectively, were established. (c) 2006 American Institute of Physics.