Multiferroic properties of Y-doped BiFeO3

Highlights: ► Y with concentration up to 0.30 has been doped into BiFeO3. ► The structure changes from R3c to Pn21a with x above 0.20 in Bi1.04−xYxFeO3. ► Strongly enhanced room temperature ferromagnetism and improved ferroelectricity have been observed in Bi0.74Y0.30FeO3. - Abstract: Bi1.04−xYxFeO3 ceramics with x up to 0.30 were prepared by a tartaric acid modified sol–gel method. The crystal structure transformed from rhombohedral (R3c) to orthorhombic (Pn21a) with increasing Y doping concentration, which was confirmed by the X ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman measurements. With increasing Y doping concentration x, the leakage current was effectively suppressed, and the room temperature ferromagnetism was strongly enhanced with increasing x to 0.30. Clear room temperature ferromagnetism with saturate magnetization of about 0.31 emu/g and ferroelectric properties with 25 μC/cm2 under electric field of 120 kV/cm have been observed in orthorhombic Bi0.74Y0.30FeO3, suggesting the potential multiferroic applications.