The magnetic and electric properties of PZT-PFW-PFN ceramics

Highlights: • Ceramic PZT-PFW-PFN (PPP) samples have been obtained using classical technology. • PFN replaces partially PZT and partially PFW. • Microstructure is fine-grained with properly crystallized grains. • Below 20 K weak ferromagnetism has been observed. • Anomalies of electric conductivity and dielectric permittivity below 200 K. The ceramic samples of solid solution (1-x)[0.5(PbZr_0.53Ti_0.47O₃)-0.5(PbFe_2/3W_1/3O₃)]-x(PbFe_1/2Nb_1/2O₃) [i.e. (1-x)[0.5(PZT-PFW)]-xPFN with x = 0; 0.1; 0.2 have been obtained by conventional ceramic technology with calcination procedure and free final sintering (FS). This work presents SEM, XRD, dielectric, ferroelectric, magnetic and electric conductivity measurements. The magnetic properties and electric conductivity were investigated at low temperatures, whereas the dielectric properties – at higher temperatures and various frequencies. XRD study confirmed that the obtained solid solutions have a perovskite structure without foreign phases. The magnetic tests show that at temperature 2 K weak ferromagnetism is observed in all samples, while at higher temperatures all samples of the investigated solid solutions exhibit M(H) dependencies typical for paramagnetic materials. The analysis of the results of measurements of d.c. electrical conductivity, as well as dielectric permittivity at low temperatures, confirmed the presence of characteristic anomalies on the temperature curves.