Emergence of magnetic and magnetoelectric characteristics (1-x) BaTi0.88Zr0.12O3-xNi0.75Co0.25Fe2O4 dual phase ceramics

A novel lead-free (1-x)BaTi0.88Zr0.12O3-xNi0.75Co0.25Fe2O4 (BTZ-NCF) dual-phase ceramic composition has been synthesized with the aim of improving magnetic and magnetoelectric properties. The prepared ceramics were systematically investigated for their electrical, magnetic, and magnetoelectric character-istics. The structural analysis via XRD patterns indicates that the BTZ and NCF phases have retained their identity in the prepared ceramics, resulting in the emergence of magnetoelectric behavior. The introduction of NCF in BTZ has resulted in a transformation from a near classical to relaxor ferroelectric character, which is essential for improving energy storage properties. The ceramic with x = 0.15 NCF concentration exhibited an optimum discharge energy density of 2.379 J/cm3 and an energy efficiency of 64.2% at a maximum applied electric field of 369 kV/cm. The introduction of NCF in BTZ has resulted in a slight deterioration in dielectric and electromechanical characteristics, which may be attributed to the relatively higher con-ductivity of the NCF phase in comparison to BTZ. However, the ferroelectric and dielectric characteristics are still high enough, resulting in the emergence of significant magnetoelectric behavior in the BTZ-NCF ceramics. Improved magnetic and magnetoelectric properties in BTZ-NCF ceramics indicate their potential applicability in various multifunctional applications requiring a combination of electrical and magnetic properties.(c) 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.