Synthesis of type-II based (1-x)Ba0.6(Ca1/2Sr1/2)0.4Ti0.5Fe0.5O3+(x)Ni0.40Zn0.45Cu0.15Fe1.9Eu0.1O4 composites via standard solid state reaction method and investigation of multiferroic properties

A series of multiferroic composites, (1-x)Ba-0.6(Ca1/2Sr1/2)(0.4)Ti0.5Fe0.5O3+(x)Ni0.4Zn0.45 Cu0.15Fe1.9Eu0.1O4 ((1-x)BCSTFO+(x)NZCFEO) where x = 0.0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 1.0 have been synthesized by standard double sintering ceramic method sintered for 3 hours at 1200 degrees C in air. The X-ray diffraction patterns reveal that the multiferroics and the parent ceramic samples crystallize in simple cubic structure with a slightly distored lattice parameter. The X-ray and bulk density increase with the increasing ferrite content. Consequently, the porosity decreases indicating better crystallization. A decreasing trend in dielectric constant is observed while the relative quality factor (RQF) increases significantly with the increasing ferromagnetic NZCFEO. At the same time, M-H hysteresis loops reveal that ferromagnetic property enhances with the addition of Ni0.40Zn0.45Cu0.15Fe1.9Eu0.1O4 (NZCFEO). The highest values of coercive field similar to 92 O and saturation magnetization similar to 1.37 emu/g are observed for x = 10% and x = 50% compositions respectively. Additionally, the permeability enhances up-to x = 30% but decreases with further doping. The room temperature resistivity rises due to the decrease in hopping mechanism. The samples exhibit a decreasing trend for resistivity with the increase of temperature. The dopant concentration has also shown an impressive impact on the activation energy. As a result, the multiferroic properties of (1-x)BCSTFO+(x)NZCFEO have been significantly improved considering the measured magnetic and ferroelectric properties. (C) 2018 Author(s).