Exploring the structural, elastic, magnetic, and electrical properties of the BaFe12-xTixO19 compound obtained by co-precipitation

Abstract

This study investigates the structural, microstructural, elastic, magnetic, and electrical properties of BaFe_12-xTi_xO₁₉ synthesized via the co-precipitation method. Rietveld refinement confirmed a single-phase hexagonal structure analogous to magnetoplumbite. The lattice parameters (a, c, c/a, and V) varied irregularly with increasing Ti⁴⁺ content. The crystallite size and microstrain, determined using the size-strain plot method, ranged from 33.8 to 75.0 nm and 0.22 % to 0.40 %, confirming a nanocrystalline structure. Micrographs revealed agglomerated particles composed of nanometer-sized grains. Elastic properties were assessed using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). The force constants and Debye temperature increased with Ti⁴⁺ content, indicating stronger bonds. Young’s modulus increased from x  = 0.0 to x  = 0.5 but decreased at higher Ti4⁺ concentrations. Conversely, the bulk and shear moduli decreased up to x  = 0.5, then increased with further Ti4⁺ incorporation. Magnetic measurements showed that the saturation magnetization ranged from 63.8 emu/g to 54.69 emu/g, while the remanent magnetization varied between 31.52 emu/g and 9.31 emu/g. Samples with x  = 0.3 and x  = 0.9 exhibited soft ferrimagnetic behavior, whereas the others displayed hard ferrimagnetic behavior. The effective anisotropy constant and anisotropy field decreased for x  ≤ 0.3 and remained stable at higher Ti4⁺ levels. Electrical studies indicated non-Debye relaxation behavior in impedance and electric modulus. Broad relaxation features in Z and M suggested that both grains and grain boundaries contribute to conduction at room temperature. The AC conductivity exhibited long-range carrier transport at low frequencies and localized electron hopping at high frequencies. Dielectric loss analysis revealed low-frequency interfacial polarization of the Maxwell-Wagner type.