title: Nanostructures of Sr2+ doped BiFeO3 multifunctional ceramics with tunable photoluminescence and magnetic properties.
abstract: Careful tuning of formation (calcination) temperature of Sr(2+) doped BiFeO(3) multiferroic ceramics results in tailorable particle morphologies ranging from spherical to pillar-like. Based on the minimization of Gibb's free energy approach, the dominant homogeneous mechanism for particle growth is suggested. The chemical substitution of a trivalent ion (Bi(3+)) by a divalent ion (Sr(2+)) causes the transformation of certain fraction of Fe(3+) to Fe(4+) and/or the appearance of oxygen vacancies. This has been respectively proved by the analysis of XPS and refinement of neutron diffraction data. Although significant modification in the particle morphology is observed, the crystal unit cell remains rhombohedral with a R3c space group but interesting variations in physical properties are achieved. O-vacancies induced strong and sharp photoluminescence activity in the IR region, similar to ZnO, is reported for the first time. This observation opens up a new application for multiferroic ceramics. SQUID M-H data confirms the straightening of the canted spin structure of BiFeO(3), which in turn results in magnetism similar to ferromagnetic materials. Findings of the magneto-dielectric effect are also discussed to claim the multiferroic nature of the sample.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Meteorology, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur-721302, West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Mandal
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rakshit
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Ray
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Mishra
authors.forename: P S R
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Krishna
authors.forename: Amreesh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chandra