Local electronic structure analysis of Zn-doped BiFeO3 powders by X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy

Abstract Multiferroic BiFe 1- x Zn x O 3 (0 ≤  x  ≤ 0.1) powders were synthesized by a hydrothermal method. Structural studies using X-ray diffraction revealed that all samples possessed a rhombohedral R 3 c perovskite structure. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the average grain size decreased slightly with increasing Zn concentration. Fe K -edge and Bi L 3 -edge X-ray absorption fine structure spectra indicated that both the Fe and Bi ions had a +3 valence state in all samples. The local electronic structure of the center atoms was affected by Zn doping. Fourier transform infrared analysis revealed the characteristic vibrations of the obtained BiFe 1- x Zn x O 3 (0 ≤  x  ≤ 0.1) samples. Magnetic hysteresis loop measurements indicated a maximum remnant magnetization (M r ) for the x  = 0.025 sample, which was primarily a result of the Fe 3+ -O-Zn 2+ anti-ferromagnetic exchange interaction.