Ferroelectric and Magnetic Properties of Dy and Co Co-Doped $BiFeO_3 $ Ceramics

Multiferroic materials have attracted much attention due to their fascinating fundamental physical properties and technological applications in magnetic/ferroelectric data-storage systems, quantum electromagnets, spintronics, and sensor devices. Among single-phase multiferroic materials, $BiFeO_3 $ is a typical multiferroic material with a room temperature magnetoelectric coupling in view of high magnetic-and ferroelectric-ordering temperatures (Neel temperature $T_N$~647 K and Curie temperature $T_C$~1,103 K). Rare-earth ion substitution at the Bi sties is very interesting, which induces suppressed volatility of Bi ion and improved ferroelectric properties. At the same time, Fe-site substitution with magnetic ions is also attracting, and the enhanced ferromagnetism was reported. In this study, $Bi_{1-x}Dy_xFe_{0.95}Co_{0.05}O_3$ (x=0, 0.05 and 0.1) bulk ceramic compounds were prepared by solid-state reaction and rapid sintering. High-purity $Bi_2O_3$, $Dy_2O_3$, $Fe_2O_3$ and $Co_3O_4$ powders with the stoichiometric proportions were mixed, and calcined at $500^{\circ}C$ or 24 h to produce $Bi_{1-x}Dy_xFe_{0.95}Co_{0.05}O_3$. The samples were immediately put into an oven, which was heated up to $800^{\circ}C$ nd sintered in air for 30 min. The crystalline structure of samples was investigated at room temperature by using a Rigaku Miniflex powder diffractometer. The field-dependent magnetization measurements were performed with a vibrating-sample magnetometer. The electric polarization was measured at room temperature by using a standard ferroelectric tester (RT66B, Radiant Technologies).