Characterization of multiferroic Bi0.8RE0.2FeO3 powders (RE=Nd3+, Eu3+) grown by the sol–gel method

• Changes of nonlinear optical response shown in BiFeO3 doped by the Eu and Nd.
• Materials synthesized by the sol–gel method.
• Microscopic and structural analysis show their possible impact on the grain sizes.
• Photoinduced optics was performed by the Nd:YAG laser.

A possibility of changes the non-linear optical response was shown for the first time in the BiFeO3 doped by the Eu and Nd materials synthesized by the sol–gel method. Grain size here plays a substantial role. At the same time the latter is responsible for the non-linear optical response. The photoinduced optics was performed by the Nd:YAG lasers of different powers for samples of different nanosizes.