Magnetic glass–ceramics containing multiferroic BiFeO3 crystals

• Phase equilibrium and glass formation region in the Bi–Fe–B–O system (0–50 mol % B2O3) have been investigated.
• The BiFeO3 glass ceramic synthesis conditions were optimized.
• The anisotropic samples consist of irregular layers of the parallel growing dendroids.
• The ceramic morphology and the crystallinity degree define the magnetic properties of the samples.

A new composite material consisting of BiFeO3 crystallites inside a nonmagnetic glass-like matrix has been synthesized using the glass crystallization method. The phase equilibrium and glass formation region of the Bi2O3–Fe2O3–B2O3 system (0–50 mol % B2O3) have been investigated. The optimal compositions for glass–ceramic synthesis are within the 25–85 mol % BiFeO3 range on the Bi4B2O9–BiFeO3 section. The obtained ceramics were studied by X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, microscopic and magnetic methods. It was shown that the BiFeO3 crystallites grow according to a dendrite mechanism resulting in anisotropic glass–ceramic. Magnetic properties of the synthesized samples depend upon their morphology and crystallinity.

Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide