Improved magnetic and dielectric properties in La doped BiFeO3.

BiFeO3 and Bi0.80La0.20FeO3 samples were synthesized by the traditional solid-state reaction method. Both samples exhibited the rhombohedral crystal structure with R3c space group, as was evidenced by their X-ray diffraction patterns. The scanning electron micrographs indicated that the grain size of the BiFeO3 sample was reduced with the substitution of La. The magnetization and coercive field are improved in the Bi0.80La0.20FeO3 sample. The frequency variation of dielectric data showed that the samples exhibited dielectric relaxations in the measured frequency range. The enhanced magnetic and dielectric properties were observed in the La substituted BiFeO3 sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]