Room temperature magnetism and ferroelectricity in BaTi0.95−xHf0.05CoxO3 ceramics

• Oxygen vacancies are observed in all doped compositions.
• Magnetism, especially signature of ferromagnetism is observed for BaTi0.8Hf0.05Co0.15O3 ceramic.
• P–E loops observed for all doped ceramic samples are of lossy type.

We report the observation of room temperature magnetism and ferroelectricity in polycrystalline BaTi0.95−xHf0.05CoxO3 ceramics, where x=0.05, 0.1, and 0.15. Magnetic and ferroelectric hysteresis loops are strongly influenced by Co ion doping concentration. Magnetization of doped compositions is enhanced with increasing of Co ion concentration. Room temperature ferromagnetism is also observed in BaTi0.8Hf0.05Co0.15O3. Simultaneously, the saturation electric polarization value is decreased with the increasing of Co ion doping concentration. Our XPS results have revealed the presence of oxygen vacancies in doped samples. Oxygen vacancies have significant influence on magnetic and ferroelectric properties of doped BaTiO3. Observation of room temperature magnetism in our samples may be due to the exchange interactions of cobalt ions through oxygen vacancies.