Lead free single – Double perovskite composite towards room temperature multiferroicity

Abstract Lead free BTO-LNMO composite sample was prepared via solid-state sintering route. Structural studies based on X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns indicate BTO and LNMO each retain their respective structure in composite form. Raman spectra of composite inferred no structural modulation after mixing of individual phases of BTO and LNMO. The change in microstructure is observed for composite due to the difference in thermal expansion coefficient as well as the different rate of grain growth of BTO and LNMO phases. BTO-LNMO composite sample is found to be ferromagnetic with non saturation of magnetic moments. Temperature-dependent zero-field cooled (ZFC) and field cooled (FC) curves show large irreversibility (94%) for composite than the pure LNMO phase. The magnetic Curie temperature (Tc) of the composite was observed near room temperature. The dielectric and ferroelectric features of BTO is well maintained in composite at room temperature. This study is an attempt to bring in the multiferroicity (magnetic and ferroelectric order simultaneously) in the proximity of room temperature by incorporating the small percentage of magnetic phase (LNMO) in the ferroelectric (BTO) matrix.