Structure and physical properties of La_0.1Bi_0.9-xEu_xFeO₃ compounds

In this work, La_0.1Bi_0.9-xEu_xFeO₃ compounds were prepared by solid-state reaction. The phase relation at room temperature was investigated by X-ray powder diffraction. A rhombohedral (R3.c) phase exists for x ≤ 0.05; for 0.08 ≤ x ≤ 0.12 a pseudo-R3c phase is found; for x ≥ 0.15 it is an orthorhombic (Pbnm) phase, while the distortion of the Pbnm phase was observed for the composition range of 0.15 ≤ x ≤ 0.20. Magnetic measurements indicate that weak ferromagnetism exists in all the compounds, and for the compounds with x ≤ 0.20 the magnetic moment has the maximum value at x = 0.12. The composition dependence of dielectric constant was investigated at room temperature. The relationship between the structure and the physical properties was discussed.