Influence of phase dominance on structural, magneto-dielectric, magnetic-electric properties of (Ba0.85Ca0.15Zr0.1Ti0.9)O3-CoFe2O3 composites

In this work, lead-free (1-x) Ba0.85Ca0.15Zr0.1Ti0.9)O3–xCoFe2O3 (BCZT-CFO, x = 00, 0.2,0.8 and 1) multiferroic composites have been prepared by chemical solution technique and sintered at 1300 °C. The article is focused on a systematic study of phase dominance effect on structure, microstructure, dielectric, magneto-dielectric, magnetic, electric, and magneto-electric properties of the BCZT-CFO composites. The XRD study confirms perovskite phase in BCZT, cubic spinal phase in CFO and mixed structural evolution in composite samples without any traceable secondary phase formation. William-Hall equation has been used to evaluate strain kinetics in pure and composite samples. The scanning electron micrographs show dispersion of smaller BCZT grains in larger CFO grains matrix. The dense microstructure has been observed for composite sample with ferrite phase dominance. The room temperature dielectric study reveals frequency-dependent dielectric dispersion characteristics for composites and pure CFO. The enhanced dielectric properties are observed for composite sample with ferroelectric phase dominance. The room temperature magneto-dielectric behavior has been observed for lead-free multiferroic composites. Under magnetic study, observed typical ferromagnetic M-H hysteresis loop reveals presence of long-range ferromagnetic ordering in pure CFO as well as in composite samples. The highest value of Ms ~ 38.2 emu/g and Mr = 1.2 emu/g has been measured for ferrite phase dominant composite sample. Higher coercive field Hc value has been observed for composite with ferroelectric phase dominance. Leakage current characteristic has been investigated at and above room temperature for prepared samples. The composite with ferrite phase dominance has shown higher leakage current characteristics. The enhanced magento-electric coupling coefficient has been measured for composite with higher ferrite phase concentration.