Comparing the magnetic and magnetoelectric properties of the SmFe3(BO3)4 ferroborate single crystals grown using different solvents

SmFe₃(BO₃)₄ single crystals have been grown from the bismuth trimolybdate and lithium tungstate-based melt-solutions. Samarium ferroborate single crystals were grown first from the lithium-tungstate flux. The magnetic and magnetoelectric properties of the synthesized crystals have been compared. It is shown that the SmFe₃(BO₃)₄ ferroborate grown from the bismuth trimolybdate-based melt-solution contains impurities of Bi³⁺ ions (∼5% at.), which replace Sm³⁺ ions, while the SmFe₃(BO₃)₄, ferroborate grown from the lithium tungstate-based melt-solution contains minor or zero amounts of such impurities. The magnetoelectric and magnetodielectric effects with the Bi³⁺ admixture appeared 1.5× stronger than in SmFe₃(BO₃)₄; this is probably due to twinning.