Effect of Dy substitution on structural, magnetic and optical properties of BiFeO3 ceramics

• Dy doped BiFeO3 ceramics were synthesised by solid state reaction method.
• XRD and Raman spectra confirm the distorted rhombohedral structure of BDF samples.
• Enhanced magnetic properties have been observed for BDF samples.
• The band gap variation in visible region makes BDF samples suitable for solar cell applications.

Bi1−xDyxFeO3 (x=0.0, 0.03, 0.05, 0.07, 0.10 and 0.12) ceramics were synthesized by solid state reaction method. Effects of Dy substitution on structural distortion, magnetic and optical properties of BiFeO3 were examined by X-ray diffraction, Raman and UV–Visible spectroscopy. The samples were found to crystallize in rhombohedral structure of BiFeO3 with R3c space group. The reduction in lattice parameters and unit cell volume indicate the distortion in FeO6 octahedra of the rhombohedral structure without any signature of phase transformation up to x=0.12. The predictable weak ferromagnetic hysteresis loops can be observed in the Dy doped samples with maximum remnant magnetization of 0.2103 emu/g for x=0.12. The weak ferromagnetism is ascribed to the suppressed spiral spin structure and magnetically active characteristic of Dy3+ ions together with ferromagnetic coupling between Dy3+ and Fe3+ ions. With optical band gap in visible region, Dy doped BiFeO3 ceramics are potential material for optoelectronic device and solar cell applications.