Theoretical and Experimental Evidence of Modified Structure, Magnetism and Optical Properties in Ba and Mn Co-Substituted BiFeO3

Abstract

To improve the vacancy related defects associated with pure BiFeO3 (BFO) different Ba-Mn co-doped samples (Bi1-xBaxFeyMnyO3; x = 0.1; y = 0.0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.15) were prepared from sol-gel method. The influence of co-doping on structural, magnetic and optical properties of BiFeO3 has been studied in different experimental conditions. Particle size and magnetic properties were measured from SEM and VSM analysis respectively. Again band gap was calculated from UV analysis. The co-doped samples showed reduced particles size as well as better surface morphology. M-H loops suggest that the presence of Mn2+ increased ferromagnetic quantity at some levels. Still room temperature occurrence of ferromagnetism obtained from M-H loops of all samples showed weak ferromagnetic behaviour. In addition the incorporation of Ba2+ at Bi3+ site and Mn2+ at Fe3+ site decreased the band gap which was evidenced by increased optical property.