Tailoring the ferroelectric and magnetic properties of Bi5Ti3FeO15 ceramics by doping with Co and Y

The ferroelectric and magnetic properties of four-layered Aurivillius Bi5Ti3FeO15 (BFT) compounds via partial substitution of Bi3+ with Y3+ and Fe3+ with Co2+ (according to formula: Bi5-xYxTi3FeO15, x = 0.1, 0.2, 0.3; Bi5Ti3Fe1-yCoyO15, y = 0.1, 0.3, 0.5) were investigated. Polycrystalline ceramics of Co and Y substituted BFT were prepared by conventional solid-state reaction. Crystal structure and phase purity were confirmed via X-ray diffraction and Rietveld refinement. Raman spectral signatures indicate that Y replaces Bi ions in the pseudo-perovskite layers and Co replaces Fe ions in the octahedral sites. SEM micrographs show a decrease in grain size for both chemically modified samples when compared to plate-like morphology for unmodified BFT with dimensions ranging from 3 to 5 μm in length and a thickness of ∼0.5 μm. The decrease in grain size is more pronounced in Co substituted samples with plate-like grain dimensions of 1 μm in length and 0.2 μm in thickness. Ferroelectric measurements show unsaturated leaky hysteresis loops in both chemically modified samples until the maximal applied electric field. Magnetic measurements confirm the paramagnetic nature of unmodified and Y substituted BFT ceramics while Co substituted BFT ceramics exhibit a typical ferromagnetic M-H loop. The largest remanent magnetization value of 0.084 emu/g at room temperature is recorded for the Co2+ substituted sample with x = 0.3. [Display omitted] •Pure and chemical modified single-phase polycrystalline ceramics were successfully synthesized by solid state reaction.•Raman spectra analysis confirmed that Y3+ replaces Bi3+ in the perovskite layers while Co ions occupy the FeO6 octahedral sites.•Ferroelectric properties have not been improved with Y3+ modification, despite the observed reduction of leakage current.•Magnetic measurements confirm the paramagnetic nature of pure and Y3+ modified BFT ceramics.•Co2+ substitution enhanced the magnetic response of BFT.