Mg-doped Bi0.8Ca0.2FeO3 with enhanced ferromagnetic properties

We report the structural and enhanced ferromagnetic properties of Mg doped Bi0.8Ca0.2FeO3 ceramics. Oxygen vacancies are introduced into Bi0.8Ca0.2Fe1−xMgxO3 ceramics doping confirmed by XRD and Raman spectra, which induce a significantly enhanced macroscopic ferromagnetism from antiferromagnetism to ferromagnetism. The enhanced ferromagnetism can be ascribed to the creation of unbalanced Fe3+ spins induced by the collapse of the space modulated cycloidal spin structure and relative long-range coupling mediated by the oxygen vacancies trapped localized electrons. The improved ferromagnetic properties obtained by co-doping demonstrate the possibility of bulk BFO in practical multiferroic applications.