Simultaneously Enhanced Magnetic and Ferroelectric Properties of $Bi_{0.9}Dy_{0.1}Fe_{0.97}Co_{0.03}O_3 $ compound

Multiferroic material $BiFeO_3$ (BFO) is a typical multiferroic material with a room-temperature magnetoelectric coupling in view of high magnetic- and ferroelectric-ordering temperatures (Neel temperature $T_N$ ~ 647 K and Curie temperature TC ~1,103 K). Rare-earth ion substitution at the Bi sites is very interesting, which induces suppressed volatility of the Bi ion and improved ferroelectric properties. At the same time, the Fe-site substitution with magnetic ions is also attracting, since the enhanced ferromagnetism was reported. In this study, BFO, $Bi_{0.9}Dy_{0.1}FeO_3$ (BDFO), $BiFe_{0.97}Co_{0.03}O_3$ (BFCO) and $Bi_{0.9}Dy_{0.1}Fe_{0.97}Co_{0.03}O_3 $ (BDFCO) compounds were prepared by conventional solid-state reaction and wet-mixing method. High-purity $Bi_2O_3$, $Dy_2O_3$, $Fe_2O_3$ and $Co_3O_4$ powders with the stoichiometric proportions were mixed, and calcined at $500^{\circ}C$ for 24 h. The samples were immediately put into an oven, which was heated up to 800oC and sintered in air for 1 h. The crystalline structure of samples was investigated at room temperature by using a Rigaku Miniflex powder diffractometer. The field-dependent magnetization measurements were performed with a vibrating-sample magnetometer. The electric polarization was measured at room temperature by using a standard ferroelectric tester (RT66B, Radiant Technologies). Dy and Co co-doping at the Bi and the Fe sites induce the enhancement of both magnetic and ferroelectric properties of $BiFeO_3$.