Multiferroic characterization of 3-phase (1-x) (0.7BiFeO3-0.3CoFe2O4)-xPb(Zr,Ti)O3 composites with magnetically driven polarization

Multiferroic materials with magnetoelectric coupling have attracted researchers and scientists as these materials can provide higher freedom to facilitate the functioning of multifunctional devices. The three-phase complex multiferroic composites consisting of rhombohedral BiFeO3, spinel cubic CoFe2O4, and tetragonal Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O-3 of the form (1 - x) (0.3CoFe(2)O(4)-0.7BiFeO(3))-xPb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O-3 (x = 0, 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3) were synthesized following a three-step route. The X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the respective crystalline phases of the BiFeO3, CoFe2O4, and Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O-3. The Surface microstructures of the composites were analyzed by the scanning electron microscope (SEM) and elemental stoichiometric contents were confirmed by the energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis. Reversible polarization with the application of an applied magnetic field was observed in the form of ME response for all the samples. The electric and magnetic properties (Dielectric, ferroelectric and ferromagnetic properties) were significantly enhanced in the 0.3CoFe(2)O(4)-0.7BiFeO(3) system with the addition of piezoelectric Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O-3 without suppressing their magnetoelectric coupling coefficient (ME), proving the potential of these multiferroic composites for the fabrication of modern devices with multifunctional applications. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.