Enhanced magnetization in multiferroic nanocomposite Bi0.9Gd0.1Fe0.9Mn0.05X0.05O3 (X= Cr, Co) thin films

Abstract

In this work we elaborated and characterized nanocomposite thin films using a preselected multiferroic matrix Bi0.9Gd0.1Fe0.9Mn0.1O3 (BGFMO) in the aim to enhance their basic ferroelectric and magnetic properties. The local ferroelectric character of these nanocomposites thin films was investigated by piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM). Switching behavior for ferroelectric domains was probed by locally manipulating domains. The magnetic investigation showed that the incorporation of transition metal elements in the BGFMO matrix brings out interesting increase in the macroscopic magnetisation at room temperature. Moreover, a spin glass type behavior is observed in M(T) curves for the studied thin films.