Multiferroic properties of microwave sintered PbFe_12−xO_19−δ

The effect of iron deficiency on the structural, electrical, ferroelectric and magnetic properties of nano PbFe_12-xO_19-δ (where x=0.0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1.0) hexaferrites prepared by sol-gel auto combustion and processed by microwaves are investigated. X-ray analysis confirms single phase magneto-plumbite phase formation. The surface morphology is studied from Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope. Further, optical properties are investigated using Fourier Transform Infrared spectra and UV–visible spectra. AC electrical conductivity is estimated as a function of temperature and frequency in the range of room temperature (RT) to 500 °C and 100 Hz to 5MHz. AC electrical conduction analysis shows that conduction is mainly due to small polaron hopping mechanism. The variation of polarization with applied electric field exhibits hysteresis loop confirming the ferroelectric nature. The initial permeability studies with varying temperature reveals that the Curie transition temperature for the present series is around 400 °C. Variation of initial permeability with frequency ranging from 100 to 5 MHz shows a constant value (except for x=0.0) opening avenues for high frequency applications. - Highlights: • The nanoPbFe_12-xO_19-δ (x=0.0, -1.0) are prepared by sol-gel auto combustion and microwave heated. • The grain size is found to be varying between 40 nm and 80nm and crystallite size 11–45 nm. • The optical band gaps are found to be varying between 1.52 and 1.89 eV. • The highest saturation polarization (P_s) of all the PMF is found to be ≈75 μC/cm².