Improved Ferroelectric and Magnetic Properties of Bismuth Ferrite-Based Ceramics by Introduction of Non-Isovalent Ions and Grain Engineering

Single-phase multiferroics exhibiting ferroelectricity and ferromagnetism are considered pivotal for advancing next-generation multistate memories, spintronic devices, sensors, and logic devices. In this study, the magnetic and electric characteristics of bismuth ferrite (BiFeO<sub>3</sub&g...

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Main Authors: Ting Wang, Huojuan Ye, Xiaoling Wang, Yuhan Cui, Haijuan Mei, Shenhua Song, Zhenting Zhao, Meng Wang, Pitcheri Rosaiah, Qing Ma
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Nanomaterials
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/15/3/215
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author Ting Wang
Huojuan Ye
Xiaoling Wang
Yuhan Cui
Haijuan Mei
Shenhua Song
Zhenting Zhao
Meng Wang
Pitcheri Rosaiah
Qing Ma
author_facet Ting Wang
Huojuan Ye
Xiaoling Wang
Yuhan Cui
Haijuan Mei
Shenhua Song
Zhenting Zhao
Meng Wang
Pitcheri Rosaiah
Qing Ma
author_sort Ting Wang
collection DOAJ
description Single-phase multiferroics exhibiting ferroelectricity and ferromagnetism are considered pivotal for advancing next-generation multistate memories, spintronic devices, sensors, and logic devices. In this study, the magnetic and electric characteristics of bismuth ferrite (BiFeO<sub>3</sub>) ceramics were enhanced through compositional design and grain engineering. BiFeO<sub>3</sub> ceramic was co-substituted by neodymium (Nd) and niobium (Nb), two non-isovalent elements, via the spark plasma sintering process using phase-pure powder prepared via sol-gel as the precursor. The symmetry of the sintered Nd–Nb co-doped samples changed from <i>R</i>3<i>c</i> to <i>Pnma</i>, accompanied by a decrease in the loss tangent, grain size, and leakage current density. The reduction in the leakage current density of the co-doped samples was ~three orders of magnitude. Moreover, ferroelectric, dielectric, and magnetic properties were substantially improved. The remanent polarization and magnetization values of the optimized Nd–Nb co-doped BiFeO<sub>3</sub> sample were 3.12 μC cm<sup>−2</sup> and 0.15 emu g<sup>−1</sup>, respectively. The multiferroic properties were enhanced based on multiple factors such as structural distortion caused by co-doping, grain size reduction, suppression of defect charges via donor doping, space-modulated spin structure disruption, and an increase in magnetic ions. The synergistic approach of composition design and grain engineering sets a paradigm for the advancement of multiferroic materials.
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spelling doaj-art-e40cf3013843419eb42254a0b7f3b74b2025-08-20T02:12:31ZengMDPI AGNanomaterials2079-49912025-01-0115321510.3390/nano15030215Improved Ferroelectric and Magnetic Properties of Bismuth Ferrite-Based Ceramics by Introduction of Non-Isovalent Ions and Grain EngineeringTing Wang0Huojuan Ye1Xiaoling Wang2Yuhan Cui3Haijuan Mei4Shenhua Song5Zhenting Zhao6Meng Wang7Pitcheri Rosaiah8Qing Ma9Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Electronic Functional Materials and Devices, Huizhou University, Huizhou 516001, ChinaGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Electronic Functional Materials and Devices, Huizhou University, Huizhou 516001, ChinaGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Electronic Functional Materials and Devices, Huizhou University, Huizhou 516001, ChinaSchool of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Hebei Vocational College of Rail Transportation, Shijiazhuang 050801, ChinaGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Electronic Functional Materials and Devices, Huizhou University, Huizhou 516001, ChinaSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), Shenzhen 518055, ChinaGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Electronic Functional Materials and Devices, Huizhou University, Huizhou 516001, ChinaSchool of Undergraduate Education, Shenzhen Polytechnic University, Shenzhen 518055, ChinaDepartment of Physics, Saveetha School of Engineering, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Thandalam, Chennai 602105, IndiaSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), Shenzhen 518055, ChinaSingle-phase multiferroics exhibiting ferroelectricity and ferromagnetism are considered pivotal for advancing next-generation multistate memories, spintronic devices, sensors, and logic devices. In this study, the magnetic and electric characteristics of bismuth ferrite (BiFeO<sub>3</sub>) ceramics were enhanced through compositional design and grain engineering. BiFeO<sub>3</sub> ceramic was co-substituted by neodymium (Nd) and niobium (Nb), two non-isovalent elements, via the spark plasma sintering process using phase-pure powder prepared via sol-gel as the precursor. The symmetry of the sintered Nd–Nb co-doped samples changed from <i>R</i>3<i>c</i> to <i>Pnma</i>, accompanied by a decrease in the loss tangent, grain size, and leakage current density. The reduction in the leakage current density of the co-doped samples was ~three orders of magnitude. Moreover, ferroelectric, dielectric, and magnetic properties were substantially improved. The remanent polarization and magnetization values of the optimized Nd–Nb co-doped BiFeO<sub>3</sub> sample were 3.12 μC cm<sup>−2</sup> and 0.15 emu g<sup>−1</sup>, respectively. The multiferroic properties were enhanced based on multiple factors such as structural distortion caused by co-doping, grain size reduction, suppression of defect charges via donor doping, space-modulated spin structure disruption, and an increase in magnetic ions. The synergistic approach of composition design and grain engineering sets a paradigm for the advancement of multiferroic materials.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/15/3/215bismuth ferritespark plasma sinteringNd–Nb co-dopingferroelectric propertymagnetic property
spellingShingle Ting Wang
Huojuan Ye
Xiaoling Wang
Yuhan Cui
Haijuan Mei
Shenhua Song
Zhenting Zhao
Meng Wang
Pitcheri Rosaiah
Qing Ma
Improved Ferroelectric and Magnetic Properties of Bismuth Ferrite-Based Ceramics by Introduction of Non-Isovalent Ions and Grain Engineering
Nanomaterials
bismuth ferrite
spark plasma sintering
Nd–Nb co-doping
ferroelectric property
magnetic property
title Improved Ferroelectric and Magnetic Properties of Bismuth Ferrite-Based Ceramics by Introduction of Non-Isovalent Ions and Grain Engineering
title_full Improved Ferroelectric and Magnetic Properties of Bismuth Ferrite-Based Ceramics by Introduction of Non-Isovalent Ions and Grain Engineering
title_fullStr Improved Ferroelectric and Magnetic Properties of Bismuth Ferrite-Based Ceramics by Introduction of Non-Isovalent Ions and Grain Engineering
title_full_unstemmed Improved Ferroelectric and Magnetic Properties of Bismuth Ferrite-Based Ceramics by Introduction of Non-Isovalent Ions and Grain Engineering
title_short Improved Ferroelectric and Magnetic Properties of Bismuth Ferrite-Based Ceramics by Introduction of Non-Isovalent Ions and Grain Engineering
title_sort improved ferroelectric and magnetic properties of bismuth ferrite based ceramics by introduction of non isovalent ions and grain engineering
topic bismuth ferrite
spark plasma sintering
Nd–Nb co-doping
ferroelectric property
magnetic property
url https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/15/3/215
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