Percolation Magnetism in Ferroelectric Nanoparticles.

Nanoparticles of potassium tantalate (KTaO) and potassium niobate (KNbO) were synthesized by oxidation of metallic tantalum in molten potassium nitrate with the addition of potassium hydroxide. Magnetization curves obtained on these ferroelectric nanoparticles exhibit a weak ferromagnetism, while these compounds are nonmagnetic in a bulk. The experimental data are used as a start point for theoretical calculations.