The Phase Structure, Microstructure, Dielectric and Magnetic Properties of 0.99(K0.45Na0.52Li0.03)(Nb0.94Sb0.06)O3-0.01BiScO3 Ceramics with NiO Doping

The effect of NiO doping (0-0.8 wt%) on the phase structure, microstructure, dielectric and magnetic properties of 0.99(K0.45Na0.52Li0.03)(Nb0.94Sb0.06)O-3-0.01BiScO(3) (KNLNS-BS) ceramics was investigated. The samples were fabricated by the solid-state combustion technique with glycine used as fuel. Powders and ceramics were calcined and sintered at temperatures of 700 degrees C for 1 h and 1120 degrees C for 3 h, respectively. The phase formation from the XRD results showed a pure perovskite structure with coexisting rhombohedral and tetragonal phases in all samples. The ratio of the rhombohedral and tetragonal phases (R:T) of the 0.6 wt% NiO doped sample was 40:60, as verified by the Rietveld refinement technique. The grain morphology of the ceramics exhibited irregular polyhedron shapes and the average grain size was in the range of 1.3 +/- 0.15 to 2.6 +/- 0.51 mu m. KNLNS-BS ceramics with 0.6 wt% added NiO had the highest density (4.40 g/cm(3)) and the highest maximum dielectric constant (epsilon (C) = 5013). Without NiO doping, the ceramic showed diamagnetic behavior, whereas all of the NiO-doped ceramics exhibited paramagnetic behavior measured at a temperature of 50 K.

Automated summary

NiO doping can enhance the density and dielectric constant of KNLNS-BS ceramics, displaying paramagnetic behavior at a temperature of 50 K.