Effect of Ba Substitution on the Structural and Magnetic Properties of BiFeO₃

Abstract

Bi 1-x Ba x FeO 3 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.3) nanopowders were synthesized using sol-gel technique. The structural and magnetic properties were investigated using X-ray diffraction, SEM and VSM. As Ba 2+ doping concentration was increased, the structure of the samples changed from rhombohedral to tetragonal or monoclinic. The structural change might be an important factor for achieving the ferroelectric properties in this material. The lattice parameters were observed to increase with increase in Ba 2+ concentration. All the M-H loops showed the ferromagnetic behavior. Magnetization was observed to enhance with increase in Ba concentration. The enhancement in the magnetization due to Ba 2+ doping may be due to the replacement of Bi 3+ ions by Ba 2+ which might have resulted in the suppression of spiral spin structure.