The magnetic properties of BiFeO3 and Bi(Fe0.95Zn0.05)O3

BiFeO3 and Bi(Fe0.95Zn0.05)O3 bulk ceramics were prepared by rapid sintering using sol–gel derived fine powders. Clear hysteresis loop with remnant magnetization has been observed in BiFeO3 at room temperature. The antiferromagnetic exchange interaction between spins of neighboring Fe3+ ions has been confirmed by the temperature dependent magnetization and high field magnetization measurements. The observed ferromagnetism in BiFeO3 was attributed to the lattice distortion induced enhanced spin canting of Fe3+ ions. With 5% Zn substituting Fe, Bi(Fe0.95Zn0.05)O3 exhibits improved dielectric properties, but the room temperature ferromagnetism vanishes.