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.