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Multiferroic composites consisting of a single-phase multiferroic [0.6(PbZr0.53Ti0.47O3)-0.4(PbFe0.5Ta0.5)O3] as a matrix and a magnetostrictive phase (Co0.6Zn0.4Fe1.7Mn0.3O4) dispersed in the matrix are fabricated via hybrid synthesis technique. The structure and surface morphology studies using x-ray diffraction and field emission scanning electron microscopy techniques indicate the formation of 3-0 type particulate composites. Coexistence of soft-magnetic behavior and ferroelectric characteristics are confirmed for composites from magnetization vs magnetic field (M–H) and polarization vs electric field (P–E) measurements, respectively. Magneto-dielectric (MD) measurement shows significant changes in the dielectric properties with the application of a magnetic field, indicating the existence of strong MD behavior. The biquadratic nature of magneto-electric (ME) coupling is described by the Landau free energy equation arising from the strain transfer at the interfaces between the constituent phases. The direct magneto-electric voltage coefficient measurement also confirms very strong coupling between ferroelectricity and magnetism and supports the strain-mediated magneto-electric effect in composites. The Φ = 0.3 composite exhibits the maximum ME coefficient of 20.72 mV/cm Oe with MS = 24.62 emu/g, HC = 59.66 Oe, and piezoelectric coefficient value d33 = 19 pC/N. The strong magneto-electric effect along with low dielectric loss at room temperature in these composites suggests their suitability for multifunctional magneto-electric device applications such as magnetic sensors, etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, we have studied the phase transition and magneto-electric properties of a 70 wt. % Pb(Fe0.5Nb0.5)O3–30 wt. % Co0.6Zn0.4Fe1.7Mn0.3O4 (70 wt. % PFN–30 wt. % CZFMO) multiferroic composite that exhibits a maximum magneto-electric (ME) coefficient of 26.78 mV/cm Oe at room temperature. Raman analysis confirms the formation of composite and development of strain with the shifting of Raman modes. The local symmetry breaking of end members of the composite is observed by the splitting of Raman modes. The first-order derivative of magnetization with temperature (dM/dT vs T) shows anomalies across 140 K due to the PFN phase, whereas the anomaly around 250 K is due to the spin glass transition of the CZFMO phase. The magnetization vs magnetic field (M–H) study at different temperatures reveals the existence of superparamagnetic behavior above 300 K. The temperature-dependent dielectric behavior of the composite shows an anomaly around ferroelectric phase transition (Tm) for the PFN phase along with the broad relaxation peak arising due to the CZFMO phase. The linear behavior of magnetocapacitance (MD%) with the square of magnetization (M2) suggests the existence of biquadratic ME coupling. The ME study on the composite suggests the existence of both direct and converse ME effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this report, we have investigated the effect of BaTiO3 on the preliminary structural analysis, ferroelectric phase transition and electrical properties of (1 − x) P b (F e 0.5 N b 0.5 ) O 3 − x B a T i O 3 (P F N − B T) (x = 0 , 0.025 , 0.05, and 0.1) solid solutions. Conventional solid-state reaction technique is adopted to synthesize P F N − B T solid solution. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis is used to study the preliminary structural analysis, which suggests the formation of the single-phase materials. The surface morphology is studied using field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM). The temperature-dependent dielectric properties display a broad diffuse phase transition from ferroelectric to paraelectric state and the phase transition temperature was found to be decreased with an increase in BT concentrations. Ferroelectric property of the solid solutions is confirmed by the polarization vs. electric field (P–E) loops study at room temperature. Variation of AC conductivity with frequency and temperature is also studied. The addition of BT leads to a decrease in the dielectric loss and phase transition temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spinel ferrites have been widely studied due to their remarkable properties such as high saturation magnetisation, large magnetic permeability, and high electrical resistivity. Among the oxides-based magneto strictive spinel ferrite, CoFe2O4 (CFO) possess the highest value of absolute magnetostriction coefficient (–110 ppm). But CFO has the disadvantage of large magnetic anisotropy and high coercivity. Therefore, doping of zinc (Zn) at Co-site of CFO is reported to reduce the magnetic coercivity and increases the resistivity (108Ω) keeping the magnetostriction coefficient with a sizable value. Also, substitution of Zn for Co in CFO reduces magnetic anisotropy. So, in view of this we have prepared Zn modified CFO compound: Co0.9Zn0.1Fe2O4 using sol-gel combustion technique. The room temperature (RT) XRD patterns indicate the formation of single-phase material without appearance of any impurity phases within the detection limit of X-ray diffractometer. The Rietveld refinement on the RT XRD pattern of CZFO sample was carried out using cubic crystal structure with space group Fd-3m. A good agreement between the experimental and the fitted data has been observed. The average crystallite size for the composition was calculated from the XRD patterns using Williamson–Hall method. Scanning electron micrographs displays homogeneous distribution of grains throughout the sample microstructure with the presence of minute amount of pores. The dielectric and electrical properties were studied as function of frequencies at different temperatures. Complex impedance spectroscopic technique study on this sample suggests existence of non-Debye type dielectric relaxation behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetoelectric (ME) materials exhibit interesting physics with cross coupling between ferroelectric and magnetic order parameters and thus strong potential to be utilized in memory, spintronics and other multifunctional electronic/magnetic devices. Doping of suitable transition metals in ferroelectrics can induce magnetism and ME coupling and modify the physical properties. Here, we report the structural, electronic, magnetic and ME coupling of 3.5, 5 and 7.5 mol% cobalt doped BaTiO3 (BTO) ceramics. X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy indicate that the samples are single phase having a tetragonal crystal structure with P4mm symmetry. The tetragonality ratio is found to decrease with increasing cobalt content. We observed a Fano-like asymmetric peak in the [A1(LO1)] Raman mode at ∼173 cm−1 in all the cobalt doped BTO samples. The cobalt dopants are shown to be uniformly distributed throughout the surface of the samples. We observed a lowering of the ferroelectric transition temperature and increasing diffusivity parameter with increasing cobalt concentration. The electrical properties of all the samples have been investigated in detail by impedance spectroscopy and ac conductivity studies before and after the ferroelectric phase transitions. All the samples show hysteretic ferroelectric behavior with a clear saturation state that decreases with increasing cobalt content. The observed ferroelectricity in these samples is intrinsic in nature. The 3.5% cobalt doped BTO sample exhibits paramagnetic behavior whereas the 5 and 7.5% cobalt doped BTO samples show ferromagnetic ordering below 43 K. The 7.5% cobalt doped BTO samples show significant ME coupling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiferroic composites with enhanced magneto-electric coefficient are suitable candidates for various multifunctional devices. Here, we chose a particulate composite, which is the combination of multiferroic (PbFe0.5Nb0.5O3, PFN) as matrix and magnetostrictive (Co0.6Zn0.4Fe1.7Mn0.3O4, CZFMO) material as the dispersive phase. The X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the formation of the composite having both perovskite PFN and magnetostrictive CZFMO phases. The scanning electron micrograph (SEM) showed dispersion of the CZFMO phase in the matrix of the PFN phase. The temperature-dependent magnetization curves suggested the transition arising due to PFN and CZFMO phase. The temperature-dependent dielectric study revealed a second-order ferroelectric to the paraelectric phase transition of the PFN phase in the composite with a small change in the transition temperature as compared to pure PFN. The magnetocapacitance (MC%) and magnetoimpedance (MI%) values (obtained from the magneto-dielectric study at room temperature (RT)) at 10 kHz were found to be 0.18% and 0.17% respectively. The intrinsic magneto-electric coupling value for this composite was calculated to be 0.14 mVcm-1Oe-1, which is comparable to other typical multiferroic composites in bulk form. The composite PFN-CZFMO exhibited a converse magneto-electric effect with a change in remanent magnetization value of -58.34% after electrical poling of the material. The obtained outcomes from the present study may be utilized in the understanding and development of new technologies of this composite for spintronics applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The acrylamide polymer gel template method has been adopted to synthesize single phase Dy1–xGdxMnO3 (DGMO, x= 0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2) ceramics. The Rietveld refinement of x-ray diffraction patterns recorded at room temperature suggests that DGMO ceramics are stabilized in an orthorhombic crystal structure with a Pnma space group. Gd3+ cations play an important role in stabilizing the orthorhombic phase and the unit cell volume increases with x. We report the phonon spectra of pure and Gd-substituted DyMnO3 (DMO) and their mode assignments. Raman modes are softened with x due to the relaxation in the stiffness constants upon the increase in the volume of the unit cell. The magnetic transition temperatures corresponding to TN(Dy) and Tlock decrease with the increase in Gd concentration as inferred from the temperature dependent magnetization data (M–T curve). The magnetization value increases below TN(Dy) with the increase in the Gd concentration as observed from the M–T plot. The magnetic hysteresis loop is fitted to extract ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic/paramagnetic contributions for each composition x. Fittings of M–H loops indicate the increase in the magnetic contribution below TN(Dy) upon increasing the Gd dopant concentrations, while that decreases above TN(Dy). The temperature dependent specific heat data identifies these magnetic transition temperatures TN(Dy), Tlock and TN(Mn). Furthermore, magnetic field dependencies on TN(Dy), Tlock and TN(Mn) are studied in an elaborate manner. Both DMO and DGMO samples are found to be viable candidates for magnetic refrigeration applications in cryogenic temperature region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polycrystalline, lead free ceramic, 0.2(K0.5Bi0.5TiO3)–0.8(NaNbO3) is prepared by high temperature mixed oxide method. Experimental studies reveal the structural and vibrational and ferroelectric properties of the ceramic. The micro structural study exhibits that small grains are distributed uniformly throughout the surface with well-defined grain boundaries and few pores. The structural analysis illustrates that the compound is formed exhibiting the structure as orthorhombic at room temperature with space group Pmc21. While adding the NaNbO3(NN) on K0.5Bi0.5TiO3 (KBT), the vibrational phonon modes undergoes a notable change, as envisaged from the FTIR spectra. From the diffuse absorbance spectra, the optical band gap is found as 3.14 eV and useful for photo catalytic application. Raman spectra exhibit different vibrational modes in the frequency ranging from 130 to 900 cm−1. Polarization study confirms the presence of ferroelectricity. Dielectric analysis infers that phase transition temperature from ferroelectric to paraelectric is observed around 500 °C. The electrical parameters related to microstructure are reflected from impedance analysis. The frequency dependent ac conductivity depends upon frequency validating Jonscher's power law. While increasing temperature, ac conductivity increases which represents the semiconducting nature of the sample. The bulk conductivity is found to be driven by thermally activated process following Arrhenius relation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the preparation of ferroelectric Ba0.7Ca0.3TiO3 (BCT) ceramics by sol-gel auto combustion technique and its specific functional properties. The structural, dielectric and ferroelectric properties of BCT are strongly depending on the sintering temperature which also improves the phase purity and crystalline quality of the system. The formation of single-phase BCT is realized by sintering at 1450 °C for 4 h. suggesting the solubility limit of Ca2+ cation. Grain size and relative density are increased as the sintering temperature increased. The Rietveld refinement technique is employed for the detailed crystal structural analysis. The temperature and frequency dependent dielectric properties are investigated; the measured dielectric constant is εr = 2680 at the transition temperature Tc=120 °C for the single phase ferroelectric BCT. Sintering and electrical poling improved the shape of the hysteresis curve and reduced the leakage current. Electrical conduction mechanism is also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]