Multiferroics as multifunctional materials have stimulated much scientific and technological interest due to their potential applications. This book is the compilation of doctoral thesis of Suresh Pittala which deals with the synthesis and characterization of an interesting room temperature multiferroic material, bismuth ferrite (BFO) with and without rare-earth (RE) doping. This work addresses the following two major questions. . . (1) What is the effect of a non-magnetic & a magnetic rare-earth ion doping on the multiferroic properties of BFO? (2)What is the effect of synthesis route on the multiferroic properties of pure and RE doped BFO? The book includes a systematic study concerning structural, electrical and magnetic properties of pure and RE doped BiFeO3 prepared through different synthesis routes. Here, the effect of secondary phase on the undoped BFO is studied. BFO is also doped with RE elements La, Gd and Ho and studied corresponding changes on structural and multiferroic properties. The role of La, Gd co-doping in enhancing the multiferroic properties of BFO is also presented. This book should be useful to readers in enhancing their knowledge about material science.
