Influence of (La, Cu) Doping on the Room Temperature Multiferroic Properties of BiFeO3 Ceramics

A series of Bi1-x La x Fe0.98Cu0.02O3 (x = 0.01, 0.03 and 0.05) ceramics were synthesized by sol–gel method. The prepared ceramics were characterized by X-ray diffractometer (XRD), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) and dielectric measurement. XRD patterns reveal that Bi1-x La x Fe0.98Cu0.02O3 (x = 0.01, 0.03 and 0.05) ceramics crystallize in single-phase rhombohedral structure with R3c space group without distortion, and the average crystallite size was in the range of 31–92 nm. VSM exhibited a weak ferromagnetism for La- and Cu-co-doped BiFeO3 ceramics. The squareness ratio of the hysteresis loop decreases as La concentration increases in Bi1-x La x Fe0.98Cu0.02O3. However, these materials show improved dielectric properties compared to undoped BiFeO3 ceramic.