Enhanced magnetodielectric properties of single-phase Bi0.95−xLa0.05LuxFeO3 multiferroic system

Polycrystalline samples of single-phase co-doped (La3+, Lu3+) in Bi0.95−xLa0.05LuxFeO3 (x = 0.03, 0.05 and 0.07) (grain size ∼0.5 μm; tolerance factor ∼0.88) were prepared by solid state reaction of oxides, followed by rapid quenching of samples. Magnetic measurements show weak ferromagnetic-antiferromagnetism (WFM) nature at room temperature but ferromagnetic nature at ∼5 K. Field cooled curves reveal spin reorientation in the system at lower temperature as shown by the peaks at ∼145 and ∼140 K for x = 0.03 and 0.07, respectively. Dielectric measurement shows relaxor type of phase transition for x = 0.07. The magnetocapacitance was found to be enhanced (∼3 times than that of BiFeO3) due to co-doping of (La3+, Lu3+) in BiFeO3 ceramic showing the coupling effect between magnetic and electric behaviors which occurs through the lattice distortion.