Bismuth ferrite (BFO) and Ba-Nb-substituted BFO with compositions Bi1-xBaxFeO3 (x= 0, 0.10, 0.15 y 0.20), BiFe1-yNbyO3 (y= 0, 0.03, 0.06 y 0.09) y Bi1-xBaxFe1-yNbyO3 (x= 0.10 (y= 0, 0.03, 0.06 y 0.09) powders were synthesized using the citrate-gel method. Infrared spectroscopy indicated shifting of Bi/Ba-O and Fe/Nb-O bond vibrations and a structural transition was observed by X-ray diffraction. A Williamson-Hall (W-H) analysis revealed that Ba/Nb dopant reduces the particle size and increases the strain crystalline lattice. Impedance analysis suggests that electrical relaxation process is temperature dependent, for all compositions obtained. Furthermore, electrical conductivity increases with temperature showing a typical negative temperature coefficient of the resistance (NTCR) analogous to a semiconductor. Magnetization v magnetic field curves reveal weak ferromagnetic behaviour within the BiFeO3 doped with Ba and Nb, and co-doped with Ba-Nb, measured at room temperature.
Keywords:
multiferroic; citrate-gel; W-H analysis; magnetic properties
