Fabrication of 0.7BaTiO3-0.3Ni0.7Zn0.3Fe2O4 Multiferroic Composite Ceramics Prepared by the Solid-State Combustion Technique

Abstract

Lead-free multiferroic composite ceramics of 0.7BaTiO3-0.3Ni0.7Zn0.3Fe2O4 (BT-NZF) were prepared by the solid-state combustion technique. The BT and NZF powders were calcined in the range of 1100 to 1200 °C for 4 h and 900 to 1100 °C for 2 h, respectively. Afterward, BT-NZF composite ceramics were sintered between 1100 and 1250 °C for 4 h. The effect of the firing temperature on the phase formation, microstructure, electrical, and magnetic properties of BT-NZF composite ceramics was investigated. X-ray diffraction of BT and NFZ powders showed the highest purity phase were prepared the calcination temperatures of 1100 and 1050 °C, respectively. The BT-NZF composite ceramics exhibited coexisting tetragonal perovskite and cubic spinel phases. The maximum density of 5.85 g/cm3 was obtained when sintering the composite ceramics at 1125 °C. The dielectric constant at room temperature increased with increased sintering temperature. The hysteresis loops showed leakage current in all samples. Ferromagnetic properties showed the highest Ms ∼ 24.56 emu/g measured under a magnetic field of 10,000 Oe from the sample sintered at 1150 °C.