Influence of Sm doping on structural, ferroelectric, electrical, optical and magnetic properties of BaTiO3

Abstract We have investigated the structural, ferroelectric, dielectric and magnetic properties of Sm doped BaTiO3 bulk ceramics. The compositions of B a 1 − x S m x T i O 3 , (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.05) were prepared using the solid state reaction synthesis. The Rietveld refinement of XRD pattern warranted the tetragonal phase structure with P4/mm space group. The crystallites size calculated using XRD pattern was found in 24–40 nm range. The P-E hysteresis loop measurements elucidated an enhancement in the spontaneous polarization with Sm doping and revealed the highest values of remnant, saturation polarization and coercivity for 5% Sm-BaTiO3 (BTO) sample. The value of dielectric constant estimated as a function of frequency and compositions, found to decreasing with increasing in frequency and Sm doping content. The AC conductivity, impedance spectra and UV–Vis spectra were affected drastically via Sm doping. The relative low band gap energy, ranging between 2.1 and 2.6 eV, indicates that the specimens having a semiconductor nature can be utilized in visible range photons harvesting devices. The magnetic measurements suggested that the samples have ferromagnetic ordering at room temperature. Our studies point out that the properties of BTO ferroelectric ceramic can be modulated via Sm doping.