Multiferroic properties of novel lead-free KNN-LT/20NZCFO magneto-electric composites

Novel multiferroic composites of 0.95Na(0.52)K(0.48)NbO(3)-0.05LaTiO(3) (KNN-LT) as ferroelectric matrix and 20 vol% Ni0.2Zn0.3Co0.5Fe2O4 (NZCFO) as ferromagnetic reinforcement successfully prepared by a conventional sintering process. In X-ray spectra, both the characteristics peaks of ferroelectric KNN-LT and ferromagnetic NZCFO phases without any impurity phase were clearly observed. Both in pure ferroelectric and composite samples the orthorhombic symmetry of KNN based piezoceramic was detected. In FESEM images, the characteristic cube-like morphology of KNN-LT phase and regular polygonal grains of NZCFO ferrite indicates the successful sintering process of multiferroic composites. The simultaneous ferroelectric (based on P-E loop) and ferromagnetic (according to M-H curve) behaviors of KNN-LT/NZCFO approves that this composite can be known as a novel lead free multiferroic composite. The excellent values of Ps similar to 9 mu C/cm(2) and Ms similar to 14 emu/g for this magnetoelectric composite were obtained. (C) 2018 Published by Elsevier B.V.