Multiferroic properties of Pb2Fe2O5 ceramics

Pb2Fe2O5 (PFO) powders in monoclinic structure have been synthesized using lead acetate in glycerin and ferric acetylacetonate as the precursor. The powders were pressed into pellets, which were sintered into ceramics at 800 °C for 1 h. The morphology and structure have been determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). Polarization was observed in Pb2Fe2O5 ceramics at room temperature, exhibiting a clear ferroelectric hysteresis loop. The remanent polarization of Pb2Fe2O5 ceramic is estimated to be Pr ∼ 0.22 μC/cm2. The origin of the polarization may be attributed to the off-centers of shifted Pb2+ ions as well as the FeO6 octahedra in the perovskite-based structure of Pb2Fe2O5. Magnetic hysteresis loop was also observed at room temperature. The Pb2Fe2O5 ceramic shows coexistence of ferroelectricity and ferromagnetism. It provides a new field of research for complex oxides with multiferroic properties.