Open AccessStructure Evolution and Multiferroic Properties in Cobalt Doped Bi4NdTi3Fe1-xCoxO15-Bi3NdTi2Fe1-xCoxO12-δ Intergrowth Aurivillius Compounds
Author(s) -
D. L. Zhang,
Wen Chen Huang,
Z. W. Chen,
Wenbo Zhao,
Lei Feng,
M. Li,
Yuewei Yin,
Sining Dong,
X. G. Li
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
scientific reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.24
H-Index - 213
ISSN - 2045-2322
DOI - 10.1038/srep43540
Subject(s) - aurivillius , ferroelectricity , multiferroics , materials science , ferromagnetism , magnetization , doping , cobalt , remanence , superlattice , condensed matter physics , crystallography , dielectric , chemistry , magnetic field , optoelectronics , physics , metallurgy , quantum mechanics
Here, we report the structure evolution, magnetic and ferroelectric properties in Co-doped 4- and 3-layered intergrowth Aurivillius compounds Bi 4 NdTi 3 Fe 1- x Co x O 15 -Bi 3 NdTi 2 Fe 1- x Co x O 12- δ . The compounds suffer a structure evolution from the parent 4-layered phase (Bi 4 NdTi 3 FeO 15 ) to 3-layered phase (Bi 3 NdTi 2 CoO 12- δ ) with increasing cobalt doping level from 0 to 1. Meanwhile the remanent magnetization and polarization show opposite variation tendencies against the doping level, and the sample with x = 0.3 has the largest remanent magnetization and the smallest polarization. It is believed that the Co concentration dependent magnetic properties are related to the population of the Fe 3+ -O-Co 3+ bonds, while the suppressed ferroelectric polarization is due to the enhanced leakage current caused by the increasing Co concentration. Furthermore, the samples ( x = 0.1–0.7) with ferromagnetism show magnetoelectric coupling effects at room temperature. The results indicate that it is an effective method to create new multiferroic materials through modifying natural superlattices.