Magnetoelectric response in lead-free multiferroic NiFe2O4-Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3 composites

Multiferroic composites that comprise NiFe2O4(NFO) and Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3(NBT) are synthesized using the sol-gel method. The results of XRD and scanning electron microscopy indicate the single-phase formation of NFO and NBT and the presence of two phases in the composites. The dielectric constant and dielectric loss are determined as functions of frequency over a wide range of frequencies from 40 Hz to 1 MHz. Room-temperature magnetization measurements show that these composites are soft magnetic. Further, the multiferroic character is confirmed by their magnetoelectric (ME) response at room temperature. The optimal ME response is 0.14% in a 67NFO-33NBT composite. The present study demonstrates that NFO-NBT could be effective as a lead-free multiferroic composite and provides an alternative for environmental-friendly ME devices. (c) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi: 10.1063/1.3540623]