Low temperature step magnetization and magnetodielectric study in Bi0.95La0.05Fe1−xZrxO3 ceramics

Single-phase, co-doped (La3+, Zr4+) in polycrystalline Bi0.95La0.05Fe1−xZrxO3 (with x = 0, 0.02, 0.04 and 0.06) ceramics (particle size ∼650 nm; tolerance factor ∼0.883) were prepared by solid state reaction of oxides, followed by rapid quenching of samples. Enhanced magnetization was observed in co-doped (La3+, Zr4+) BiFeO3 which may be ascribed to the collapse of the spiral spin structure. Step magnetization was observed in zero field cooled (ZFC) and field cooled (FC) curves. The coexistence of ferromagnetism and ferroelectricity has been confirmed in the co-doped (La3+, Zr4+) in BiFeO3 ceramics by means of (M–H) and (P–E) loops measurements. Magnetodielectric properties have been observed at room temperature.

► Single-phase Bi0.95La0.05Fe1−xZrxO3 (x = 0, 0.02, 0.04 and 0.06) polycrystalline ceramics, were prepared by solid state reaction method.
► Particle size was found ∼650 nm using nano particle size analyzer and tolerance factor was calculated ∼0.883.
► Magnetization changed sharply in specific range of temperature, reveals spin glass transition and most probably step magnetization.
► Remnant polarization (Pr) dependence on the magnetic field is the most conclusive experimental evidence of magnetoelectric coupling in this system.
► The values of magnetoelectric interaction constant (γ) were found to be negative and small.