Electrical and Magnetic Properties of BiFeO3 Multiferroic Ceramics

The multiferroic BiFeO3 has been investigated extensively in both thin film and ceramic form. However, the synthesis of a perfect sample with high resistivity, is a prerequisite for examining its properties. This paper reports the synthesis of multiferroic BiFeO3 along with its structural, electrical and magnetic properties in ceramic form. Polycrystalline ceramic samples of BiFeO3 were synthesized by solid-state reaction using high purity oxides and carbonates. The formation of a single-phase compound was confirmed by x-ray diffraction and its lattice parameters were determined using a standard computer program. The microstructural studies and density measurement confirmed that the prepared samples were sufficiently dense for an examination of its electrical and magnetic properties. The dc electrical conductivity studies show that the sample was resistive with an activation energy of similar to 0.81 eV. The magnetization measurement showed a linear (M similar to H) curve indicating antiferromagnetic characteristics.