Multiferroic properties of Bi0.87La0.05Tb0.08FeO3 ceramics prepared by spark plasma sintering

Abstract

Dense ${\mathrm{Bi}}_{0.87}{\mathrm{La}}_{0.05}{\mathrm{Tb}}_{0.08}\mathrm{Fe}{\mathrm{O}}_3$ ceramics were prepared by spark plasma sintering. The sample showed stable dielectric constant and low dielectric loss $(\sim 5\%)$ , and a saturation ferroelectric loop with remnant polarization of $17\mu \mathrm{C}∕{\mathrm{cm}}^2$ and saturation polarization of $19\mu \mathrm{C}∕{\mathrm{cm}}^2$ , as well as good ferromagnetism with saturation magnetization of $0.71\mathrm{emu}∕\mathrm{g}$ , at room temperature. After the sample was poled, its piezoelectric constant was measured as $12.8\mathrm{pC}∕\mathrm{N}$ , and, in particular, an obvious magnetoelectric coupling was observed.