Multiferroic properties of La and Mn co-doped BiFeO3 nanofibers by sol–gel and electrospinning technique

The La and Mn co-doped BiFeO3 nanofibers were synthesized in order to obtain one-dimensional multiferroic materials with better performance. The fibers before and after heat treatment had high aspect ratios, and the fibrous morphology could be observed obviously. With the substitution of Mn ions onto Fe sites, the Bi0.9La0.1Fe0.95Mn0.05O3 nanofibers presented a larger saturation magnetization at room temperature, and the double exchange interactions of Fe3+–O–Fe2+ increased. The values of remanent polarization and coercive field were 0.162 μC/cm2 and 5.633 kV/cm measured at a voltage of 2000 V, respectively. The Fe3+ to Fe2+ ratios of the samples increased from 45.24/54.76 to 54.68/45.32 due to the Mn doping.

Graphical abstractMagnetic and ferroelectric properties of the BLFMO nanofibers.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► Multiferroic Mn-doped Bi0.9La0.1FeO3 nanofibers were synthesized. ► The fibers before and after heat treatment had high aspect ratios. ► The Mn-doped nanofibers presented larger saturation magnetization. ► The ferroelectric properties were displayed by P–E hysteresis loops. ► The Fe3+ to Fe2+ ratios increased after the Mn doping.