Particulate composites of ferrite and ferroelectric phases with xNiFe₂O₄ (NF) and (1 − x)Pb_0.988(Zr_0.52Ti_0.48)_0.976Nb_0.024O₃ (where x = 2, 10, 20, 30, 50, 70, and 100 wt. %) were prepared in situ by sol-gel method. The presence of a diphase composition was confirmed by X-ray diffraction while the microstructure of the composites was studied by scanning electron microscopy revealing a good mixing of the two phases and a good densification of the bulk ceramics. The dielectric permittivity shows usual dielectric dispersion behavior with increasing frequency due to Maxwell-Wagner interfacial polarization. AC conductivity measurements made in frequency range 1 Hz-1 MHz suggest that the conduction process is due to mixed polaron hopping. The effect of NF phase concentration on the P-E and M-H hysteresis behavior and dielectric properties of the composites was investigated. At low NF concentration a sharp ferro-paraelectric transition peak can be observed at around 360 °C while for higher NF concentrations a trend to a diffuse phase transition occurs. All the composite samples exhibit typical ferromagnetic hysteresis loops, indicating the presence of ordered magnetic structure.

The electric field dependence of the dielectric constant (dc-tunability) as a function of temperature for a few compositions of Ba(Sn,Ti)O₃ ceramics was investigated. Dense and homogeneous BaSn_xTi_1−xO₃ ceramics (ferroelectric for x = 0.05 and x = 0.10, relaxor for x = 0.15 and 0.20) with high dielectric constant and low dielectric losses were prepared by solid state reaction. Their dc-tunability characteristics were investigated at a few temperatures from 20–120 °C, including the Curie range. The tunability data were discussed in terms of the Johnson model completed with a Langevin term that describes the “extrinsic” contribution to the nonlinear ɛ(E) dependences.

Tunable microwave devices are widely used in radar, telecommunication and radio frequency measurement systems. In recent years, a promising technology for tunable microwave devices, which combines the advantages of using the magnetic and electrical properties of materials as well as their magnetoelectric coupling, has been developed. In the present work, x MnFe ₂ O ₄ -(1 − x )Pb _0.988 (Zr _0.52 Ti _0.48 ) _0.976 Nb _0.024 O ₃ ferrite-ferroelectric composites have been prepared and their functional properties were investigated, in order to be designed as components in tunable microwave devices. Structural, microstructural, dielectric and magnetic investigations confirmed the formation of composite ceramics with valuable dielectric and magnetic properties at room temperature. The complex permittivity and permeability of the investigated magnetoelectric ceramics, measured in the frequency range of 1 MHz to 1 GHz, show as a combination of the properties of Pb(Zr,Ti)NbO ₃ ferroelectric and magnetic MnFe ₂ O ₄ phases. Experimental measurements and the numerical simulations were done using a high frequency structure simulator (HFSS) which revealed that the investigated composite disk placed on a microstrip line acts as an electromagnetic resonator and it could be consider as a filter with tunable stop-band capabilities controlled by an external magnetic field. It was found that the central stop-band frequency of the designed filter can be tuned with 18 MHz by changing the magnetic field from 0 to 2 kOe.