Enhanced multiferroic properties of single-phase BiFeO3 bulk ceramics by Ho doping

Abstract

Dense single-phase BiFeO 3 and Bi 0.9 Ho 0.1 FeO 3 ceramics were prepared by the solid-state reaction method. With Ho doping, the remnant polarization of BiFeO 3 was enhanced and the switching characteristics improved at low electric fields. Ho doping increased the breakdown voltage with a reduction of the leakage current while mitigating the remnant polarization at high electric fields. These results can explain conflicting findings regarding the effects of rare-earth doping on remnant polarization. Bi 0.9 Ho 0.1 FeO 3 exhibited peculiar double hysteresis looplike magnetization-magnetic field curves with a much enhanced remnant magnetization. These improved properties obtained by Ho doping demonstrate the possibility of enhancing the multiferroic applicability of BiFeO 3 .