Influence of isothermal structural transition on the magnetic properties of Cr doped Bi0.86Nd0.14FeO3 multiferroics

In this work, we have studied the crystal structure, microstructure, magnetic properties, and the effect of isothermal structural transition on the magnetic properties of Bi0.86Nd0.14Fe1-xCrxO3 (0.02 ≤ x ≤ 0.1) ceramic compounds. The analysis of X-ray diffraction patterns reveals a mixture of the R3c rhombohedral and PbZrO3-type orthorhombic phases. With increasing Cr concentration, the PbZrO3-type phase percentage is gradually increased from 33% for x = 0.02–63% for x = 0.1 at the expense of the R3c phase. The magnetic properties of compounds are mainly attributed to the destruction of the long-range incommensurate cycloidal spin structure in the orthorhombic symmetry. The isothermal structural transition (IST) is observed at room temperature when samples are stored in laboratory conditions. A remarkable change of magnetic properties is observed, which is believed originated from the IST and spin frustration at the phase boundary. •Cr doped Bi0.86Nd0.14FeO3 samples were synthesized by solid-state reaction method.•The structural analysis reveals a coexistence of the polar R3c rhombohedral and antipolar PbZrO3-type structures.•Cr doping cannot suppress the cycloidal spin structure in the R3c phase.•The enhanced magnetization is attributed to an increase in PbZrO3-type phase percentage.•The isothermal structural transition greatly influences the magnetic properties.