Structural, dielectric, optical, and magnetic properties of ferrite-double perovskites for potential industrial applications

Abstract

We report a comprehensive study of the structural, morphological, and electrical properties of the solid-state synthesized perovskite ceramic Bi_0.5Ca_1.5Fe_0.5Zr_1.5O₆ (BCFZO). A rigorous preparation procedure was carried out, which involved the sintering of the pelletized material, followed by an extensive evaluation utilizing X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and dielectric studies. The single-phase rhombohedral structure was confirmed by XRD refinement, and SEM demonstrated a clearly defined morphology with an average particle size of 42.068 μm. The investigation of electrical conductivity, which was clarified by Jonscher's universal power law, revealed information about the dynamics of charge carriers that displayed semiconductor behaviour. Intriguing polarization dynamics can be observed by dielectric studies, suggesting potential uses in energy storage. The consistency observed in the charge carrier relaxation process is underscored by the alignment of activation energy values derived from various analyses. The large dielectric constant along with its low loss value and direct optical band gap value of 2.61 eV, present encouraging opportunities for optoelectronic applications. The dielectric complexities of BCFZO open up new possibilities for its application in revolutionary technological fields. The antiferromagnetic behaviour of the transition metal substituted oxide perovskite is governed by the superexchange interactions between two half-filled overlapping atomic orbitals that participate during spin interchange, triggered by the replacement of Zr⁴⁺ cations at the Fe³⁺ cationic site. The larger value of the thermistor constant as observed in the analysis suggests the potential of this perovskite to be used as an NTC-type thermistor.