Enhanced multiferroic properties of single-phase BiFeO3 bulk ceramics by Ho doping

Dense single-phase BiFeO3 and Bi0.9Ho0.1FeO3 ceramics were prepared by the solid-state reaction method. With Ho doping, the remnant polarization of BiFeO3 was enhanced and the switching characteristics improved at low electric fields. Ho doping increased the breakdown voltage with a reduction of the leakage current while mitigating the remnant polarization at high electric fields. These results can explain conflicting findings regarding the effects of rare-earth doping on remnant polarization. Bi0.9Ho0.1FeO3 exhibited peculiar double hysteresis looplike magnetization-magnetic field curves with a much enhanced remnant magnetization. These improved properties obtained by Ho doping demonstrate the possibility of enhancing the multiferroic applicability of BiFeO3. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3552682]