Magnetoelectric effect of Ni0.8Zn0.2Fe2O4/Sr0.5Ba0.5Nb2O6 composites

Novel magnetoelectric composites were prepared by incorporating the dispersed Ni0.8Zn0.2Fe2O4 ferromagnetic particles into Sr0.5Ba0.5Nb2O6 relaxor ferroelectric matrix. Dense composite ceramics were obtained with the co-presence of Sr0.5Ba0.5Nb2O6 and Ni0.8Zn0.2Fe2O4, and they could be electrically and magnetically poled to exhibit a significant magnetoelectric effect. A maximum magnetoelectric voltage coefficient of 26.6 mV/cm/Oe was observed from the composites with 70 mol% Sr0.5Ba0.5Nb2O6, which was much greater than that of magnetoelectric compounds and solid solutions. It is convenient to use the Pb-free (Sr,Ba)Nb2O6 relaxor as the matrix for ferromagnetic/ferroelectric composites in the future development of magnetoelectric materials. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.