Development of chemically synthesized lead-free double perovskite compound: BiBaFeCeO₆

In this communication, preliminary structural and detailed electrical (impedance, and conductivity) along with multiferroic (ferroelectric and ferromagnetisc) characteristics of a cost effective chemically processed double perovskite compound, BiBaFeCeO_6, have been reported. By analyzing the X-ray diffraction data, the orthorhombic crystal structure of the compound with a single-phase characteristic is obtained. Combining the two simple perovskite materials, BiFeO₃ with BaCeO₃, in equal ratio produces a new double perovskite compound BibaFeCeO6 with the enhanced dielectric constant (as compared to that of individual perovskite). The shift in the dielectric peak and increase of peak broadening with increase in frequency suggest the existence of relaxation process and relaxor characterizes in the studied compound. The variation of the characteristic of dc conductivity with temperature displays the presence of semiconductor (negative temperature coefficient of resistance) behavior in the compound. Analysis of frequency dependence of ac conductivity data shows that the studied compound obeys the Jonscher's universal power law. The analysis of complex impedance and modulus spectroscopy data exhibits the non-Debye type of relaxation mechanisms in the compound. The multiferroicity in the compound has been confirmed from the P–E, M–H hysteresis loop and M–E coupling characteristics.