X-Ray Diffraction and Mössbauer Studies of the Structural Features of BiFe_{1 ‒ x}Zn_xO₃ Multiferroics

The structure of ceramic BiFe_1‒xZn_xO₃ multiferroic samples is investigated using the X-ray diffraction method and Mössbauer spectroscopy. X-ray diffraction analysis of the samples indicates the existence of the Bi₁₂(Bi_0.5Fe_0.5)O_19.5 impurity phase. High-temperature heating of the samples generates additional phases. The parameters of the Mössbauer spectra depend on the zinc concentration. In this case, for pure bismuth ferrite, the spectrum is a superposition between two Zeeman sextets and two paramagnetic doublets arising from two nonequivalent magnetic and electrical positions occupied by iron ions at the crystallattice sites of a sample. The replacement of iron ions with zinc ions substantially affects the spectrum parameters. This is probably related to changes in the spin-cycloid structure typical of multiferroics, the destruction of which stimulates the appearance of significant magnetoelectric interactions.