Electrical characterization of Ba_0.5Sr_0.5TiO₃ in BFO environment

Multiferroic and magneto-electric (MF-ME) materials are broadly and vastly investigated as they have unique phenomena. The other aspects of research interest on MF-ME materials have rich in fundamental physics and the number of potential multi-functional applications in modern technologies. The conducting properties of grain boundaries, defects, low resistivity etc., in BFO, create high leakage currents, which in turn hinders ferroelectric and transport properties. Previous investigations on the ferroelectric and ferromagnetic properties of BFO–BaTiO₃ and BFO-SrTiO₃ solid solution have demonstrated that their dielectric properties were complicated by high dielectric losses and high conductivity, which were ascribed to the valence fluctuation of Fe and the formation of oxygen vacancies. In view of technological importance, the ecofriendly multiferroic compound of (BiFeO₃)_0.5(Ba_0.5Sr_0.5TiO₃)_0.5 (BFO-BST) is tailored to study its different equities. The sample was prepared by the prevalent solid state reaction route, which is simple and economic. The formations of the compound have been verified by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) characterization technique. From XRD pattern, it is inferred that the observed peaks and calculated peaks are well matched with each other having minimum deviation. The density of the compound is quiet high as calculated by above analysis as well as from SEM image. The EDS spectra show the absence of any foreign elements in the compound. The electrical parameters i.e. Impedance, modulus and conductivity properties of the compound illustrates a strong correlation with the micro-structure and resistive properties of the material. The electrical transport properties of the material show the existence of non-exponential-type of conductivity relaxation in the material. (author)