Multiferroic properties and surface potential behaviors in cobalt-doped BiFeO3 film

Abstract

The spatial coexistence of magnetic and ferroelectric domains in multiferroic BiFe0.96 Co0.04 O3 film is confirmed by multimode scanning probe microscopy. The applied bias dependence of the surface potential in BiFe0.96 Co0.04 O3 indicates that surface potential is determined by the interplay of polarization and surface charges. It is also shown that multiferroic BiFe0.96 Co0.04 O3 can more easily trap surface charges than the well-known ferroelectric PbZr0.53 Ti0.47 O3. The time evolution of surface potential exhibits an exponential decay, which is closely related to the observed spread of surface charges. The study on BiFe0.96 Co 0.04 O3 unveils the origin and evolution behavior of the surface potential in BiFeO3 -based multiferroic films. © 2010 American Institute of Physics.