Improved leakage current and ferromagnetic properties in magnetic field annealed BiFeO3-based ceramics

Single-phase Bi0.85La0.15FeO3 ceramics were synthesized under various magnetic fields (Ha=0 T, 3 T, 5 T). Substantially reduced leakage current and hence modified ferroelectric (FE) properties were obtained with magnetic field annealing (MA). The largest magnetization and lowest leakage current with large FE polarization (Pr∼33 μC/cm2) were found in the sample annealed with Ha=3 T. Great changes were also observed in the Raman spectra. All the observed features originate mainly from the different FE domain wall structures induced by MA. These results demonstrate that MA is an effective way to tune the multiferroic and magnetoelectric properties in BiFeO3-based materials. - Graphical abstract: Bright field TEM micrograph of the representative domain structures in the samples (a) BLF0, (b) BLF3 and (c) BLF5. Highlights: ► Bi0.85La0.15FeO3 ceramics were synthesized under various magnetic fields. ► Substantially reduced leakage current with improved ferroelectricity were obtained. ► Enhanced magnetization with moderate annealing magnetic field