Neutron diffraction studies on crystal and magnetic structures of BiFeO$_{3}$ at high pressures

ORAL

Abstract

As one of the most prominent examples of multiferroic materials, bismuth ferrite BiFeO$_{3}$ shows both electric polarization below $T_{C}$= 1100 K and long-range magnetic ordering below $T_{N}$= 640 K. The coexistence of both electric and magnetic order parameters at room temperature is particularly interesting for technological applications. However, the physical and structural properties of BiFeO$_{3}$ under pressure are still a matter of debate in the literature. Here we report neutron diffraction data on BiFeO$_{3}$ at 294 K up to 10 GPa. The evolution of both the crystal structure and magnetic structure of this material with pressure has been well determined. Our results shed insight on the long standing controversy surrounding the structural transformations at 3 GPa and 7-10 GPa reported by different laboratories.

*This work was supported by the U.S. DOE.

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Authors

  • Xiaojia Chen

    • Geophysical Laboratory, Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington, DC 20015, U.S.A.
    • Geophysical Laboratory, Carnegie Institution of Washington
    • Carnegie Institution of Washington

  • Malcolm Guthrie

    • Geophysical Laboratory, Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington, DC 20015, U.S.A.

  • Russell J. Hemley

    • Geophysical Laboratory, Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington, DC 20015, U.S.A.
    • Geophysical Laboratory, Carnegie Institution of Washington

  • Ho-kwang Mao

    • Geophysical Laboratory, Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington, DC 20015, U.S.A.
    • Geophysical Laboratory, Carnegie Institution of Washington

  • Yu-Jie Wu

    • Department of Physics, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China

  • Xiao-Kun Chen

    • Department of Physics, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China

  • Jamie J. Molaison

    • Neutron Scattering Science Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, U.S.A.

  • Antonio F. Moreira Dos Santos

    • Neutron Scattering Science Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, U.S.A.

  • Christopher A. Tulk

    • Neutron Scattering Science Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, U.S.A.