Magnetoelectric (Bi, Ln)Feo3 compounds: Crystal growth, structure and properties

Abstract Growth conditions for Bi1−xLnxFeO3 (Ln˭La, Nd, Sm, Gd, Dy) crystals have been determined. Polymorphism, polar and magnetic properties of several structures have been studied. The quadratic magnetoelectric effect is found in rhombohedra1 and triclinic crystals with x < 0.25. The linear magnetoelectric effect is observed in the mm 2 orthorhombic structure, the magnitude of which depends on the nature of the rare-earth element. It is very large for (Bi, Dy)FeO3 crystals.