Yu-Jie Wu

Magnetic enhancement across a ferroelectric–antiferroelectric phase boundary in Bi1−xNdxFeO3

The structural and magnetic properties of well-prepared Bi1−xNdxFeO3 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.2) powders are investigated by combining x-ray diffraction, Raman scattering spectra, and magnetic measurements. Structural symmetric breaking from rhombohedral R3c to orthorhombic Pnma at the substituted Nd concentration of x = 0.125–0.15, accompanying a ferroelectric-antiferroelectric phase transition, is identified from x-ray diffraction patterns and Raman scattering spectra. The magnetization enhancement of Bi1−xNdxFeO3 is observed before approaching ferroelectric-antiferroelectric phase boundary conditions (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.15). We consider that such enhancement results from the destruction of the spin cycloid accompanying the structural transition. At x > 0.15, the magnetization decreases, which is probably attributable to further degradation of the space modulated spin structure, allowing a more perfect antiferromagnetic ordering.

Pressure effect on structural and vibrational properties of Y-substituted BiFeO3

The structural and vibrational properties of 5% Y-substituted BiFeO3 under pressure have been investigated using synchrotron x-ray diffraction (SXRD) and Raman scattering measurements. At a pressure below 30.3 GPa, distinct changes in the Raman spectra and SRXD pattern show evidence for one pressure-induced structural transition from the polar rhombohedral R3c phase to the nonpolar orthorhombic Pnma phase commencing at 3.6 and completed at 7.2 GPa, where there is a region of phase coexistence between the R3c and Pnma phases. At a higher pressure of 40.8 GPa, another phase transition from orthorhombic to cubic is observed accompanied by the insulator-metal transition. Our data do not suggest the pressure-induced re-entrance of ferroelectricity in the model multiferroic Bi0.95Fe0.05O3 in the pressure range studied.

Pressure effect on structural and vibrational properties of Sm-substituted BiFeO3

The structural and vibrational properties of 5% Sm-substituted BiFeO3 under pressure are investigated using synchrotron X-ray diffraction and Raman scattering measurements. The results yield the pressure-induced structural phase transitions from the polar R3c phase to the orthorhombic Pnma phase commencing at 3.9 and being complete at 7.6 GPa, where there is a region of the coexistence of the R3c and Pnma phases. This structural transition is companied by the ferroelectric-paraelectric transition for the Sm-substituted BiFeO3. We find that the Sm substitution leads to lower transition pressure compared to that of the pure BiFeO3 system due to the substitution-induced chemical pressure. Our results do not suggest the pressure-induced reentrance of ferroelectricity in the model multiferroic BiFeO3 in the pressure range studied.

Structural Transition and Magnetic Property of Bi1−xYbxFeO3

Bi1−xYbxFeO3(0≤x≤0.2) powders have been synthesized using a sol‐gel method. The X‐ray diffraction data show a structural transition from the rhombohedral R3c phase to the orthorhombic Pnma phase between x=0.1 and 0.125, which should induce a ferroelectric‐paraelectric transformation. The phase transition is also proven by the Raman spectroscopy. A moderate signal on magnetization appears to illustrate the enhancement of magnetization at the transformation boundary, which is suggested to be the destruction of the spin cycloid structure at low concentration. The appearance of antiferromagnetic ordering is proposed to account for the afterward reduction of the magnetization at high concentration.