Synthesis and Characterization of Sodium Potassium Niobate (Na0.5K0.5NbO3)–Nickel-Zinc Ferrite (Ni0.6Zn0.4Fe2O4)Composite

Abstract

The present project dealt with the preparation of a multiferroic composite (Na0.5K0.5)NbO3-(Ni0.6Zn0.4)Fe2O4 in which the constituent materials (Na0.5K0.5)NbO3 [NKN] and (Ni0.6Zn0.4)Fe2O4 [NZFO] were prepared by coating method and combustion method respectively. These were mixed in required proportion and densified by conventional sintering process to form composite. Four compositions were prepared to form composite (1-x)(Na0.5K0.5)NbO3-x(Ni0.6Zn0.4)Fe2O4 [NKN-NZFO] ceramics, where x=0.01, 0.10, 0.15 and 0.20. XRD of the sintered and ground sample showed no reaction between individual phases and no secondary phase formation in the final product. SEM image shows that addition of NZFO significantly modifies the microstructure of the sintered sample. Grain size found to be 10-15 µm for 1% NZFO addition. The grain size reduced to 2-5 µm for higher NZFO addition. The dielectric constant and dissipation factor were studied as a function of frequency for ceramic composites