Electric, magnetic and high frequency properties of screen printed ferrite-ferroelectric composite thick films on alumina substrate

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this article is to study the effect of ferrite content on electric, magnetic and microwave properties of screen-printed y(Ni0.4Co0.2Cd0.4Fe2O4) + (1 − y)Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3 (y = 0.0, 0.15, 0.30, 0.45, 1.0) thick films on alumina. Design/methodology/approach – Thick films of ferrite–ferroelectric composite on alumina substrate have been delineated using screen printing technique. The structural analysis was carried out using X-ray diffraction method and scanning electron microscopy. The DC electrical resistivity was measured using the two-probe method. The magnetic measurement was carried out using a vibrating sample magnetometer. Microwave absorption was studied in the 8-18 GHz frequency range by using the vector network analyzer (N5230A). The permittivity in the 8-18 GHz frequency range was measured by using voltage standing wave ratio slotted section method. Findings – The formation of two individual ferrite–ferroelectric phases in composite thick films was confirmed by the X-ray diffraction patterns. The scanning electron microscope morphologies show the growth of cobalt-substituted nickel cadmium ferrite grains which are well dispersed in lead zirconium titanate matrix. The DC electrical resistivity increases with increase in ferrite content and decreases with increase in temperature. The present ferrite shows ferromagnetic nature and it increases saturation magnetization and coercivity of the composite thick films. Tuning properties are observed in the Ku-band and broadband X-band microwave absorption is observed in the composite thick films. The imaginary part of permittivity increases with an increase in ferrite content, which increases microwave absorption. The real part of microwave permittivity varied from 17 to around 22 with an increase in ferrite content and it decreases with frequency. The microwave conductivity, which increases with an increase in ferrite content, reveals the loss of polaron conduction, which supports the dielectric loss in the microwave region. Originality/value – Electric, magnetic and microwave properties of screen-printed y(Ni0.4Co0.2Cd0.4Fe2O4) + (1 − y)Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3 (y = 0.0, 0.15, 0.30, 0.45, 1.0) composite thick films on alumina substrate is reported for the first time.