Synthesis and structural analysis of Co-doped BaTiO3

BaTiO3 doped with various percentages of Co (1-5 mol%) was synthesized using a combined sol-gel-hydrothermal method. The structural characteristics of the compounds were investigated using X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. Surface chemical information and oxidation states were studied using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The magnetic properties of the samples were studied using magnetization curves. In addition, quantum chemical calculations were performed to elucidate the electronic structure of the samples and to understand the possible substitution mechanisms during Co-doping. The results indicated that Co effectively endowed the BaTiO3 structure with intrinsic magnetic properties, which decreased as the Co percentage increased. In addition, the increase in the Co mol% produced a gradual loss of the non-perovskite structure, leading to a decrease in the ferroelectric behaviour.