Room-temperature magnetoelectric properties of Fe doped BaZr0.05Ti0.95O3

To explore the magnetoelectric effect in lead free bulk ceramics, solid solutions of BaZr0.05(FexTi1-3x/4) O-0.95(3) have been synthesized using conventional solid state reaction route with x = 0.000 to 0.020 in steps of 0.005. A small amount of Fe content shows an immense effect on properties of barium zirconium titanate. Room temperature X-ray diffraction studies substantiate the formation and purity of these polycrystalline samples in an orthorhombic crystal system. Temperature dependent dielectric study revealed a decrease in ferroelectric Curie temperature with a decrease in dielectric constant values as x varied from 0.000 to 0.020. Ferroelectricity is still maintained and well saturated loops are observed with Fe substitution at these levels; although the remnant polarization P-r values decrease substantially with increasing Fe content. The best value of magnetoelectric coupling coefficient (alpha) at room temperature is found to be 145.30 mV/cm. Oe for x = 0.015 sample. In conclusion, in a non-Pb based simple perovskite system a reasonably large magnetoelectric coupling is demonstrated. (c) 2013 American Institute of Physics.