Tuning of BiFeO3 multiferroic properties by light doping with Nb

Bulk ceramic samples of BiFeO3 were light doped (up to 1%) with Nb5+ in the place of Fe3+ (B-site doping) and their multiferroic properties were investigated using XRD, SEM, polarization (PMTS) and magnetization (SQUID) techniques. It is shown that even the small percentages of doping can notably change electric and magnetic behavior. Electric conductivity differs by two orders of magnitude between samples doped with 0.2% and 1% Nb. The ferroelectric behavior strongly depended on conduction mechanism, and transition from space-charge-limited current (SCLC) conduction to trap-filled limited (TFL) conduction regime reflected on a change in hysteresis patterns, particularly for the samples with 0.2% and 0.5% Nb. Separation of ZFC-FC magnetization curves occurred for all Nb concentrations and increased with Nb doping. Weak ferromagnetic behavior and the increase of remnant magnetization with Nb concentration was observed from the hysteresis measurements. Coercive field changed drastically compared to the pure BiFeO3, namely, the sample with 1% Nb exhibited very high coercive magnetic field of ~ 10 kOe.