Optical and magnetic properties of Sm-doped BiFeO3 nanoparticles around the morphotropic phase boundary region
Yanhong Gu, Yan Zhou, Weiying Zhang, Chaoyang Guo, Xianghui Zhang, Jianguo Zhao, Yaju Zhang, Haiwu Zheng
Abstract
The crystal structure, photocatalytic activity, and ferromagnetic properties of Sm-substituted (Bi1−xSmxFeO3, x = 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20) nanoparticles were systematically investigated within the entire Sm substitution region. The morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) consisting of a rhombohedral phase, orthorhombic interim phase (Pna21), and orthorhombic phase with 0.1 ≤ x ≤ 0.2 is constructed and confirmed by x-ray diffraction and Raman spectra with new vibration modes at ∼310 cm−1. The photocatalytic activity and ferromagnetism are improved around the MPB region (x = 0.10). Meanwhile, the wasp-waisted hysteresis loops are present around the MPB region. Wasp-waisted hysteresis loops have the features of low hysteresis loss in low magnetic fields and are helpful in designing some multiferroic devices.