Structural, morphological and multiferroic properties of Pr and Co co-substituted BiFeO3 nanoparticles

Single-phase Bi1−xPrxFeCo0.05O3 nanoparticles with varying x from 0 to 0.15 were prepared by sol–gel method.The effects of Pr substitution on the structures, magnetism and electrical properties of all the samples are investigated systematically. X-ray diffraction and Raman spectra results confirm that the samples simulated from a distorted rhombohedral structure to a cubic structure and surface morphology of the samples were examined by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The ferroelectric and magnetic hysteresis loops show coexistence of magnetism and ferroelectricity at room temperature. The structure transition may be the main cause for the origin of improved magnetic and ferroelectric properties.

► Single-phase Bi1−xPrxFeCo0.05O3 nanoparticles with x varying from 0 to 0.15 were prepared by the sol–gel method. ► X-ray diffraction studies revealed a lattice distortion from a distorted rhombohedral structure to a cubic structure for x=0.1. The combination of the Raman spectroscopy and XRD data suggest that our samples are single-phased. ► It was also found that the doping of Pr improved magnetization and ferroelectric properties while the most pronounced mutations were observed in the x=0.1 samples.