Grain size dependent magnetoelectric coupling of BaTiO3 nanoparticles

We report the magnetoelectric (ME) coupling properties of BaTiO3 nanoparticles of different grain sizes ranging from 16-26 nm synthesized using a modified Pechini method. Nanostructured multiferroic BaTiO3 shows good ferroelectric and magnetic properties at room temperature, which is confirmed using temperature dependent dielectric spectroscopy and a magnetometer. A quantitative magnetoelectric coefficient measurement of BaTiO3 samples at room temperature was performed using the dynamic lock-in amplifier technique. The obtained magnetoelectric coefficient values of all the samples indicate the occurrence of strong magnetoelectric coupling and the maximum recorded at an AC magnetic field of 77 Oe is 32 mV cm(-1) Oe(-1) and exhibits size-dependent magnetoelectric coupling. This enhanced room temperature ME voltage coefficient with perfect ME anisotropy provides the possibility for using such a material in low energy consumption or miniaturized device applications in the area of sensors and memory devices.