Crystal and magnetic structure of (1− x) BiFeO3–xSrTiO3 (x= 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 and 0.8)

Abstract

The effect of doping SrTiO3 into BiFeO3 on the magnetic and crystal structure has been explored using powder neutron diffraction for where x=0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.6 and 0.8. While the data are not sensitive to the cycloidal component of the magnetic ordering, the evolution of the collinear antiferromagnetic moment of the G-type antiferromagnetic component with T and x has been explored, as have structural parameters. It is found that for pure phase samples form in the R3c cell, and for x=0.8 a non-magnetic phase is obtained. The x=0.6 sample gives a mixed phase. Through the R3c phase the magnetic structure does not change appreciably apart from the reduction of magnetic moment magnitude with the increasing T and/or x. © 2013 Elsevier Inc