Influence of Fe₂O₃ Doping Levels on the Phase Evolution, Microstructure, Electrical and Magnetic Properties of Ba_0.97Ca_0.03Ti_0.94Sn_0.06O₃ Ceramics Synthesized via the Solid-State Combustion Technique

Abstract

Ba_0.97Ca_0.03Ti_0.94Sn_0.06O₃ ceramics with Fe₂O₃ doping (BCTS-xFe; x = 0, 0.001, 0.002, 0.003, 0.004 and 0.005) were synthesized via the solid-state combustion technique. The influence of small amounts of Fe₂O₃ doping on the phase evolution, microstructure, electrical and magnetic properties of BCTS ceramics was investigated. We found that increasing Fe₂O₃ doped content changed the crystal structure from coexisting tetragonal and orthorhombic phases to a pseudo-cubic phase. The grain size, ε_c and P_r decreased rapidly with increasing Fe₂O₃ content. Moreover, T_O-T and T_C moved to lower temperatures and the maximum dielectric constant became significantly reduced with increased Fe₂O₃ doping. The BCTS ceramics with doped Fe₂O₃ displayed paramagnetic characteristics.

KEYWORD:

• BCTS-xFe
• solid-state combustion
• dielectric
• ferroelectric

Acknowledgments

This work was financially supported by Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Naresuan University and The National Science, Research and Innovation Fund (NSRF) (Grant No: R2564B001). Thanks for the XRD data from beam line 1 is given to the Synchrotron Light Research Institute (Public Organization). Thanks are also given to Asst. Prof. Dr. Kyle V. Lopin for his help in editing the manuscript.