Magnetic Properties of a (1−x)Bi 0.5 Na 0.5 TiO 3 +xCaNiO 3-δ Solid Solution System Prepared by Sol–Gel Technique

A new solid solution system of (1- x )Bi 0.5 Na 0.5 TiO 3 + x CaNiO 3-δ compounds were synthesized by the sol–gel technique. The x-ray diffraction and Raman scattering structural studies indicated that the CaNiO 3-δ compound was well solid soluble in the host Bi 0.5 Na 0.5 TiO 3 crystals to form solid solutions. The random incorporation of Ca and Ni cations into the Bi 0.5 Na 0.5 TiO 3 host materials resulted in a distortion of lattice parameters, subsequently, in modification of the electronic band structure, and induced complex magnetic properties of the host materials. An enhancement of the magnetic properties of Bi 0.5 Na 0.5 TiO 3 materials resulted from complex-site preferences of A -sites via Ca cations together with transition Ni cations substituted for the B -site in the perovskite structures. Our results were essential to point out that the co-modification of both A and the B -sites via alkaline earth and transition metals, respectively, in lead-free ferroelectric Bi 0.5 Na 0.5 TiO 3 materials had opened a new method to improve magnetic performance for smart electronic applications.