Structural, electrical, magnetic and magnetoelectric properties of composites

The magnetoelectric (ME) composites with composition (y)Ni0.8Zn0.2Fe2O4+(1 -y) Ba0.90Sr0.10Zr0.04Ti0.96O3 ((y)NZE+(1 -y)BSZT) (where y = 0.00-0.15 in wt%) were prepared by the conventional solid state reaction route. The existence of both phases was confirmed by the X-Ray diffraction technique and the lattice parameters for all samples were calculated. The dielectric properties such as dielectric constant and dielectric loss were measured as a function of temperature at different frequencies. P-E hysteresis loops and M-H hysteresis loops confirm the ferroelectric and ferrimagnetic nature of the composite samples. M-H loops for electrically poled and un-poled samples were compared to prove ME evidences. Variation of ME coefficient (alpha) with dc magnetic field was also studied for all composite samples. The maximum value of alpha (1.6 mV/cm Oe) was observed for y = 0.10 at 750 Oe. (c) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.