Investigations on structure, dielectric and multiferroic behavior of (1 − x)BaFe12O19–(x)BaTiO3 composites

Multiferroic ceramics with composition (1 − x) BaFe12O19–(x)BaTiO3; (x = 0, 0.2, 0.5, 0.8 and 1) were fabricated through solid-state reaction. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed the synthesis of composite samples with the coexistence of ferroelectric and ferromagnetic phases. Rietveld refinement patterns revealed the presence of cubic phase besides tetragonal phase in pure ferroelectric (BaTiO3). Field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) used to have morphological studies and compositional analysis. Average grain size decreased and dielectric constant increased upon adding ferroelectric phase in hexaferrite. Both tangent loss (tanδ) and dielectric constant exhibited dispersion at high temperature and low frequency. P–E loop confirmed the introduction of ferroelectric properties in hexaferrite upon adding BaTiO3. M–H loop confirmed magnetic behavior with high coercivity in composites at room temperature. The composite with x = 0.2 has a maximum magnetoelectric coupling coefficient at Hac = 45 Oe. The developed composites confirmed to possess multiferroic behavior and can be utilized as fabricating materials for magnetic recording and memory storage devices.