Dielectric properties and related ferroelectric domain configurations in multiferroic BiFeO3–BaTiO3 solid solutions

Abstract Dielectric properties and ferroelectric domain configurations of multiferroic x BaTiO 3 –(1 − x )BiFeO 3 ( x = 0.10–0.33) solid solutions synthesized by conventional solid-state reaction, were reported. A structural transition from rhombohedral to pseudo-cubic structures appeared around x = 0.33, and the formation of impurity phase of Bi 2 Fe 4 O 9 was effectively depressed by doping BaTiO 3 . Dielectric constants of x BaTiO 3 –(1 − x )BiFeO 3 solid solutions decreased with increasing the frequency, and the degree of decrease was related to the doping content of BaTiO 3 . Transmission electron microscopy images revealed that the ferroelectric domain configurations in the multiferroic BiFeO 3 –BaTiO 3 solid solutions with rhombohedral symmetry, exhibited a wavy character whereas a predominant intricate domain structure with fluctuating mottled contrast was observed in the multiferroic BiFeO 3 –BaTiO 3 solid solution with pseudo-cubic phase structure. The presence of 1/2{1 1 1} superlattice spots in the selected area electron diffraction patterns taken from the multiferroic BiFeO 3 –BaTiO 3 solid solutions with rhombohedral symmetry indicated that the ordered regions have a doubled perovskite unit cell.