Phase Formation, Dielectric, Ferroelectric and Magnetic Properties of Cr₂O₃ Doped (Ba_0.85Ca_0.15)(Ti_0.90Zr_0.10)O₃ Ceramics

Abstract

In this paper, we studied the effect of Cr₂O₃ doping (0–0.8 wt%) on the phase formation, dielectric, ferroelectric and magnetic properties of (Ba_0.85Ca_0.15)(Ti_0.90Zr_0.10)O₃ (BCTZ) ceramics prepared by the solid state combustion method. All samples were prepared with a calcined and sintered temperature of 1050 °C and 1450 °C, respectively, for 2 h. The results of the XRD patterns showed the coexistence between the tetragonal (T) and orthorhombic (O) phases for all samples, and the tetragonal phase increased with increasing amounts of Cr₂O₃. The dielectric constant decreased when Cr₂O₃ increased. The P-E hysteresis loops of the BCTZ ceramics doped with Cr₂O₃ between 0 and 0.2 wt% showed slim and saturated loops. By increasing Cr₂O₃ doping from 0.4 to 0.8 wt%, the P-E loops were unsaturated and a leakage current was produced. The undoped BCTZ ceramics exhibited diamagnetic behavior. The sample with 0.2 wt% Cr₂O₃ showed ferromagnetic behavior. Increasing Cr₂O₃ doping from 0.4 to 0.8 wt%, caused the ceramics to exhibit paramagnetic behavior. Doping with Cr₂O₃ led to improper ratios between the tetragonal and orthorhombic phases, decreased density and increased porosity which caused a decrease in the electric properties.

Keywords:

• Phase formation
• dielectric properties
• ferroelectric properties
• magnetic properties

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank the Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Naresuan University for their supporting facilities. Thanks are also given to Dr. Kyle V. Lopin for his help in editing the manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Higher Education Research Promotion and National Research University project of Thailand, Office of the Higher Education Commission.