Effect of Gd substitution on structure and magnetic properties of BiFeO < inf > 3 < /inf >

Abstract

Multiferroic ceramic samples of GdxB1-xFeO3 (x 0-0.35) have been prepared by solid state reaction method. The results of XRD show a transition from rhombohedral to orthorhombic structure with increase in composition. Ferromagnetic order is observed with an enhanced magnetization (M) and coercivity (Hc) for all the doped samples. Maximum magnetization is observed at the field of 5T for x 0.3. The temperature dependant magnetization shows the anomalous magnetic behaviour in this system. A minimum in the M-T curve and double hysteresis loop behaviour were observed for the samples with x=0.1 and 0.2