Microstructure, XRD and Mössbauer spectroscopy study of Gd doped BiFeO3

The results of fabrication process and characterization of Bi1-xGdxFeO3 (x = 0.05, 0.07, 0.10) ceramics are reported in the paper. The samples were prepared by standard solid state reaction method from the mixture of oxides: Bi2O3, Fe2O3 and Gd2O3. The influence of Gd substitution on the microstructure and density of Bi1-xGdxFeO3 was studied. Phase composition and structure of the obtained samples were investigated by Xray diffraction. It turns out that the Bi1-xGdxFeO3 solid solutions with x = 0.05 and 0.07 crystallize in trigonal structure characteristic of BiFeO3 compound. For the sample with x = 0.1, beside the major trigonal phase, 6% of orthorhombic phase typical for GdFeO3 was detected. Hyperfine interaction parameters were studied by Mossbauer spectroscopy. Mossbauer results proved that the spin cycloid characteristic of BiFeO3 compound gradually disappears when substituting Gd3+ ions at the Bi3+ sites.