The characterization of Nd doped BiFeO3 multiferroic polycrystalline materials.

The present work reports the preparation and study of multiferroic Nd doped BiFeO₃ (BFO) polycrystalline samples. The samples are prepared with sol-gel method. The x-ray diffraction measurements confirm the orthorhombic structure with Pnma space-group. Small amount of secondary phase is also observed. SEM and EDX have been used to study the surface morphology and weight percentage of the elements. The room temperature leakage current density (J-E) measurements indicate grain boundary limited conduction and Ohmic conduction mechanisms under lower and higher field regions, respectively. Ferroelectric (P-E& PUND) and Mössbauer spectroscopy measurements are also carried out and are discussed in the present paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]