Crystal structure and Mössbauer effect in multiferroic 0.5BiFeO3-0.5Pb(Fe0.5Ta0.5)O3 solid solution

Materials that exhibit ferromagnetic and ferroelectric ordering in the same phase are named magnetoelectrics, which are part of a larger group of multiferroics. Multiferroics possess at least two ferroic orderings at the same time. Magnetoelectric materials are characterized by a strong coupling between the magnetic and electric subsystems, which means that the magnetic fi eld is able to induce electric polarization and vice versa. The fi rst single-phase multiferroic perovskite oxides (ABO3) were discovered in early 1960s. However, very limited progress has been made during the past several decades [1–6]. The signifi cant development of multiferroic materials started with the successful synthesis of multiferroic thin fi lms [7]. Magnetoelectrics are widely used as transducers, actuators, detectors, and other sensors that are characterized by high dielectric permittivity and magnetic permeability [1–7]. Strong coupling between electrical polarization and magnetization vectors is desirable for a new class of multifunctional materials, for example, new mass storage devices. Unfortunately, most multiferroic materials are characterized by a low magnetic ordering temperature, considerably below room temperature, what limits their practical applications. Bismuth ferrite (BiFeO3) is a well-known perovskite compound that simultaneously exhibits Crystal structure and Mössbauer effect in multiferroic 0.5BiFeO3-0.5Pb(Fe0.5Ta0.5)O3 solid solution Agata Stoch, Jan Maurin, Paweł Stoch, Jan Kulawik, Dorota Szwagierczak