Multiferroic properties in Zn and Ni co-doped BiFeO3 ceramics by solution combustion method (SCM)

In present paper, we synthesize the multiferroic Bi1−xZnxFe1−yNiyO3 (x=y=0.025, 0.05, 0.075 and 0.1) ceramics by using solution combustion method (SCM). The room temperature ferroelectric and magnetic hysteresis loops present the co-existence of magnetism and ferroelectricity in a single phase. This ferroelectric hysteresis loops exhibit an unsaturated behavior and represents a partial reversal of polarization at room temperature. Beside, this it was found that the room temperature magnetization measurement is giving rise to the appearance of weak ferromagnetism. The Bi0.975Zn0.025Fe0.975Ni0.025O3 and Bi0.9Zn0.1Fe0.9Ni0.1O3 ceramics display the clear evidence of dielectric anomaly around 300 and 325 °C which corresponds to antiferromagnetic to paramagnetic phase transition of BiFeO3 ceramics. The structural study shows the Bi1−xZnxFe1−yNiyO3 (x=y=0.025, 0.05, 0.075 and 0.1) ceramics have rhombhohedral perovskite structure. The surface morphology of the samples was examined by SEM.