Structure-property relationship of GdCrO3-modified BiFeO3 ceramics

Solid solutions of perovskites (1−x)BiFeO3-xGdCrO3 (x = 0, 0.1 and 0.2) has been synthesized under high-pressure conditions in an attempt to find magnetoelectric materials. Structural studies of these samples show a compositional-driven phase transition from rhombohedral for x = 0 to orthorhombic symmetry for x = 0.2, with a mixture of the two phases for x = 0.1. Magnetic and ferroelectric properties of these samples are shown to correlate with evolution of their structural state. The addition of GdCrO3 in BiFeO3 leads to a ferroelectric-paraelectric phase transition. The magnetic properties of BiFeO3 are improved due to structural distortion and partial destruction of spiral spin structure caused by introducing GdCrO3. The best combination of multiferroic characteristics, with remanent polarization and magnetization of 10.1 μC/cm2 and 0.118 emu/g, respectively, was realized in the sample with x = 0.1. The magnetodielectric and magnetoelectric effect of these samples were evaluated.