Ferroelectric, magnetic and structural studies of the Bi4LaSmFe2Ti3O18 multiferroic material

We report the synthesis and characterization of the new Bi4LaSmFe2Ti3O18 ferroelectric ceramic. X-ray characterization reveals reflections for layered perovskite Aurivillius system. Rietveld analyses of the powder pattern shows that Bi4LaSmFe2Ti3O18 crystallizes in orthorhombic structure, which corresponds to the space group F2/mm (#42), with lattice parameters a=5.4240(16) Ǻ, b=5.4078(23) Ǻ and c=50.2440(12) Ǻ. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) reveals the formation of dense material with plate-like morphology. Electric polarization curves were measured by means of a radiant ferroelectric tester, at room temperature in bulk samples and exhibit an intrinsic ferroelectric response, even at low applied fields. Measurements of the magnetization as a function of temperature after Zero field cooling and field cooling were carried out by using a MPMS Quantum Design SQUID magnetometer. We found an effective magnetic moment of 7.95 µB, which is 95.8% in agreement with the expected value calculated from Hund׳s rules. Magnetization curves as the function of applied fields reveal an incipient hysteretic behavior at room temperature.