Synergistic effect of the ferroelectric-ferrite approach on the structural, electrical and magnetic properties

In the present report, the structure-property correlation of 0.9BaZr(0.2)Ti(0.8)O(3)-0.1NiFe(2)O(4) (0.9BZT-0.1NFO) composite is studied. The X-ray Diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and Field Effect Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) reveal the existence of ferroelectric and magnetic phases without any impurity and interdiffusion. The dielectric, ferroelectric and conductivity mechanisms of the sample are studied in a wide range of temperature (RT-500 degrees C) and frequency (100 Hz-1 MHz), respectively. The dielectric constant is larger than 2000 in low frequency (<1 kHz), while it decreases to 500 when the frequency is larger than 4 kHz. Both small polaron and correlated barrier hopping contribute to the conduction mechanism. The multiferroism at room temperature is confirmed by P-E and M-H loop study. The composite obeys the Law of Approach to Saturation at a higher field. The saturation magnetization found from fitting is in good agreement with the experimental value.