Studies of electrical conductivity and magnetic properties of Bi1-xGdxFeO3 multiferroics

Abstract

The polycrystalline samples of Bi1-xGdxFeO3 (x = 0, 0.1, and 0.2) multiferroic oxides have been synthesized by a solid-state reaction/mixed oxide technique. The preliminary X-ray structural analysis with room temperature diffraction data confirmed the formation of single-phase systems. Study of room temperature scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of the surface of the above samples exhibits a uniform distribution of plate- and rod-shaped grains throughout the sample surface with less porosity. The dielectric behavior of the materials was studied in a wide range of frequency (1 kHz–1 MHz) and temperature (30–400°C). The nature of temperature dependence of dc conductivity confirms the Arrhenius behavior of the materials. The frequency–temperature dependence of ac conductivity suggests that the material obeys Jonscher's universal power law. An increase in Gd-content results in the enhancement of spontaneous magnetization BiFeO3 (BFO) due to the collapse of spin cycloid structure. The magnetoelectric coupling coefficient of BFO has been enhanced on Gd-substitution.

Keywords

• Multiferroics
• dielectric properties
• electrical conductivity
• magnetic properties