Premium
Symmetry Modulation and Enhanced Multiferroic Characteristics in Bi 1‐ x Nd x FeO 3 Ceramics
Author(s) -
Chen Jing,
Xu Bin,
Liu Xiao Qiang,
Gao Ting Ting,
Bellaiche Laurent,
Chen Xiang Ming
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
advanced functional materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.069
H-Index - 322
eISSN - 1616-3028
pISSN - 1616-301X
DOI - 10.1002/adfm.201806399
Subject(s) - multiferroics , condensed matter physics , antiferromagnetism , materials science , ferroelectricity , ferromagnetism , magnetism , piezoresponse force microscopy , phase transition , magnetoelectric effect , polarization density , magnetization , magnetic field , physics , dielectric , optoelectronics , quantum mechanics
BiFeO 3 is recognized as the most important room temperature single phase multiferroic material. However, the weak magnetoelectric (ME) coupling remains as a key issue, which obstructs its applications. Since the magnetoelectric coupling in BiFeO 3 is essentially hindered by the cycloidal spin structure, here efforts to improve the magnetoelectric coupling by destroying the cycloidal state and switching to the weak ferromagnetic state through symmetry modulation are reported. The structure is tuned from polar R3c to polar Pna2 1 , and finally to nonpolar Pbnm by forming Bi 1‐ x Nd x FeO 3 solid solutions, where two morphotropic phase boundaries (MPBs) are detected. Greatly enhanced ferroelectric polarization is obtained together with the desired weak ferromagnetic characteristics in Bi 1‐ x Nd x FeO 3 ceramics at the compositions near MPBs. The change of magnetic state from antiferromagnetic (cycloidal state) to ferromagnetic (canted antiferromagnetic) is confirmed by the observation of magnetic domains using magnetic force microscopy. More interestingly, combining experiments and first‐principles‐based simulations, an electric field‐induced structural and magnetic transition from Pna2 1 back to R3c is demonstrated, providing a great opportunity for electric field‐controlled magnetism, and this transition is shown to be reversible with additional thermal treatment.