Comprehensive study on the structural and magnetic characteristics of Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3-Y3Fe5O12 particulate composites

Here we report the detailed structural and magnetic characteristics of (1-x) Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3-(x) Y3Fe5O12, (x = 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, & 0.8 wt. %) lead-free particulate composites. The structural, morphological, and magnetic properties were thoroughly investigated through XRD, SEM, and M-H analysis. Morphological studies demonstrate a uniform distribution of both ferroelectric and ferrimagnetic grains within the composites and the HR-TEM studies confirm the presence of both phases by showing the respective d-spacing values. A decrease in the bandgap values with the increase of YIG wt. % was observed through UV-vis absorbance spectra. The elemental composition and the electronic states of the elements present on the surface of the 0.2NBT-0.8YIG (Y8) composite were analyzed using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Magnetic hysteresis measurements reveal the soft magnetic nature of YIG, with a coercivity (H-c) value of 15.07 Oe. The remanent magnetization (M-r), and saturation magnetization (M-s) values for YIG are 0.92 emu/g, and 35.02 emu/g respectively. Additionally, the strain induced in the composites was calculated using Williamson-Hall (W-H) plots, revealing that the Y2 (0.8NBT + 0.2YIG) composite exhibits the highest strain value of 0.00173. The NBT exhibits ferroelectric behaviour with a saturation polarization (P-s) of 1.26 mu /C-2, a remnant polarization (P-r) of 1.52 mu /C-2, and a coercive field (E-c) of 1.25 kV/cm. In contrast, the composites display lossy behaviour, as evidenced by oval shape P-E loops, attributed to high leakage currents.