Weak ferromagnetism in BiFeO3 doped with titanium

The Bi1−xAxFe1−xTixO3 (A—Ca, Sr, Pb, Ba) and BiFe1−xTixO3+δ systems have been studied using X-ray, neutron powder diffraction and magnetization measurements in a magnetic field up to 14 T. It was found that all Bi1−xAxFe1−xTixO3 solid solutions are rhombohedral up to x=0.3. In the case of BiFe1−xTixO3+δ the rhombohedral distortion preserved up to x=0.11. A homogeneous weakly ferromagnetic state was found for Bi1−xCaxFe1−xTixO3 (0.15≤x≤0.25) and BiFe1−xTixO3+δ (0.06≤x≤0.11), probably due to magnetoelectric interactions, whereas Bi1−xAxFe1−xTixO3 (A—Sr, Pb, Ba) compounds above doping level x>0.1 seem to be collinear antiferromagnets.