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arXiv · 1012.4288

Particle size dependence of magnetization and non-centrosymmetry in nanoscale BiFeO3

Sudipta Goswami·Dipten Bhattacharya·P. Choudhury
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Abstract

The saturation magnetization (M_s), antiferromagnetic transition point (T_N), and the off-center displacements of Bi and Fe ions have been measured as a function of particle size in nanoscale BiFeO3. T_N decreases down to ~550 K for particles of size ~5 nm from ~653 K in bulk while M_s rises by more than an order of magnitude. Analysis of crystallographic structure from Rietveld refinement of x-ray diffraction patterns shows significant rise in off-center displacements of Bi (del_Bi) and Fe (del_Fe) ions within a unit cell with the decrease in particle size. The net unit-cell polarization P_S too, is found to be larger in nanoscale regime.

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Sudipta Goswami, Dipten Bhattacharya, P. Choudhury. 2010-12-20. Particle size dependence of magnetization and non-centrosymmetry in nanoscale BiFeO3. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3567038

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