Correlation between piezoelectric and magnetic properties of Fe and Sm co-substituted potassium niobate piezoelectric ceramics

Abstract

A piezoelectric material KNbO₃ has been co-substituted with the magnetic ions Sm³⁺ and Fe³⁺ in order to explore the relation between piezoelectricity and magnetism. The samples K_1−xSm_xNb_1−xFe_xO₃ [x = 0.0–0.1] were synthesized using a solid state reaction route, after estimating the structural stability with the substitution. Structural studies were employed using XRD with Rietveld refinement and Raman analysis suggesting Amm2 symmetry. Also, the transition temperature was observed to change with the increase in Sm and Fe content. This transition temperature was also confirmed through high temperature XRD and high temperature Raman results. The dielectric and piezoelectric properties were found to be in correlation with the intensity of Raman modes for substituted samples, indicating better ferroelectricity at x = 0.05. A correlation between piezoelectric and magnetic properties was established in terms of the coercive field and exchange energy.