Enhanced multiferroicity in Mn- and Cu-modified 0.7BiFeO3 − 0.3(Ba0.85Ca0.15)TiO3 ceramics.

The effect of CuO and MnO 2 as sintering additives on the structural, ferroelectric, and magnetic properties of 0.7 BiFeO 3 − 0.3 (Ba 0.85 Ca 0.15) TiO 3 was investigated. The addition of CuO can inhibit grain growth, and the sample possesses the maximum remanent magnetization. However, the addition of MnO 2 can promote grain growth, and the sample exhibits the maximum remanent polarization of 34 μ C / cm 2. Nevertheless, the addition of both CuO and MnO 2 can markedly enhance the magnetic properties. The magnetization measurements manifest that all the samples undergo a paramagnetic to ferrimagnetic transition arising from the existence of a net moment due to the antiferrimagnetic interactions between Fe 2 + and Fe 3 + sublattices. The enhanced magnetism of the samples with the addition of CuO and MnO 2 can be due to the enhanced superexchange interaction between Fe 2 + and Fe 3 + arising from the increased Fe–O–Fe bond angle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]