High magnetic and ferroelectric properties of BZT-LSM multiferroic composites at room temperature

In this research, the effects of La_0.7Sr_0.3MnO₃ additive on the phase evolution, microstructure, dielectric, ferroelectric and magnetic properties of BaZr_0.07Ti_0.93O₃ ceramics were systematically investigated. The (BaZr_0.07Ti_0.93O₃)/x(La_0.7Sr_0.3MnO₃) or BZT/xLSM (where x?=?0, 5, 10 and 20?mol%) ceramics were prepared via a solid state reaction method. A pure perovskite phase is observed for the samples of x?≤?10?mol%. The M-H hysteresis loops also show an improvement in the magnetic behavior for higher LSM content samples as well as the modified ferroelectric properties. However, the 5?mol% sample exhibited the optimum ferroelectric and ferromagnetic properties with remnant magnetization (M_r) and remanent polarization (P_r) of 2.38?emu/g and 10.5?µC/cm², respectively. The dielectric-temperature curves show that the two phase-transition temperatures as observed for the unmodified BZT ceramic merges into a single phase-transition temperature for the 5?mol% sample and then become flat curves for the 10?mol% sample. In addition, the mechanical properties i.e. Knoop hardness and Young's modulus values increase with increasing LSM content, where Knoop hardness and Young's modulus values for the 20?mol% sample are increased by ~ 45% and ~ 104%, respectively, as compared to the unmodified sample.