Ferroelectric-Paraelectric Transition inBiFeO3: Crystal Structure of the OrthorhombicβPhase

By D. Arnold, K. Knight, F. Morrison, P. Lightfoot. 2008

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A detailed investigation using variable temperature powder neutron diffraction demonstrates that ${\mathrm{BiFeO}}_{3}$ undergoes a phase transition from the ferroelectric $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ phase (rhombohedral, $R3c$) to a paraelectric $\ensuremath{\beta}$ phase (orthorhombic, $Pbnm$) between $820\text{ }\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}\mathrm{C}$ and $830\text{ }\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}\mathrm{C}$. Coexistence of both phases over a finite temperature interval, together with abrupt changes in key structural parameters, confirms that the transition is first order. The $\ensuremath{\beta}$ phase corresponds to a ${\mathrm{GdFeO}}_{3}$-type perovskite structure.

Subfields: Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials, Materials Chemistry

View Paper: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/129db624901332af705fcfa08398188b01d506c8