STRUCTIRE AND MAGNETIC PROPERTIES OF BiFeO3 AND Bi0.9Sm0.1FeO3

Abstract

In this work, we have reported that Sm doping can contribute a good effect on magnetic properties of BiFeO3 (BFO) ceramics. The effect of substitution of Sm3+ ion on Bi3+ site were investigated based on the structure and magnetic properties. Multiferroic BFO and Bi0.9Sm0.1FeO3 samples were prepared by conventional solid state reaction. The phase exists and the crystal structure was confirmed by X-Ray Diffraction and has showed that the both samples were polycrystalline with rhombohedral R3C structure. By using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), the average grain size obtained for Bi0.9Sm0.1FeO3 is smaller (0.5-1.5 µm) than pure BFO (1-3 µm). Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM) measurement at room temperature showed that Bi0.9Sm0.1FeO3 have higher magnetization saturation of 11.181 x 10-2 emu/g remnant magnetization (1.84x 10-2) and coercivity field (1541.9 Oe) than pure BiFeO3.