Impedance spectroscopy of Gd-doped BiFeO3 multiferroics

The polycrystalline Bi1−x Gd x FeO3 (BGFO) (x=0.0, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20) materials were synthesized by a solid-state reaction (mixed oxide) technique. Preliminary X-ray structural analysis of the compounds confirmed the formation of single-phase polycrystalline samples. Room temperature scanning electron micrographs of the materials revealed the size, type and distribution of grains on the surface of samples. Studies of impedance, electrical modulus and electric conductivity of the materials in a wide frequency (10–1000 kHz) and temperature (30–500 ∘C) range using a complex impedance spectroscopy technique have provided considerable vital information on contribution of grains, grain boundary and interface in these parameters. A strong correlation between these electrical parameters and microstructures (bulk, grain boundary, nature of charge carrier, etc.) of the materials was established. The frequency dependence of electric modulus and impedance of the material shows the presence of non-Debye type of relaxation.