Enhanced microwave absorption of BaTiO3-based ferroelectric/ferromagnetic nanocomposite

► NiCoP/BaTiO3 and carbonyl iron/BaTiO3 nanocomposite are prepared by electroless plating and mechanical milling method, respectively. ► The increasing in coercivity after mechanical alloying is due to the residual stress, impurities and defects. ► We also find that resonance of permittivity should arise from dipole polarization, magnetic loss should arise from natural resonance and exchange resonance. ► It is evident that NiCoP/BaTiO3 composite is a narrowband microwave absorber, and carbonyl iron/BaTiO3 composite shows broadband absorption characteristics.