Magnetoelectric properties of laminated La0.7Ba0.3MnO3-BaTiO3 ceramic composites

Multiferroic laminated ceramic composites consisting of piezoelectric (BaTiO3, phase B)-magnetostrictive (La0.7Ba0.3MnO3, phase L) materials were synthesized by the Pechini method. The composites were sintered separately and in the form of L-B-L, in order to compare the properties of the separate phases and the laminated material. X-ray diffraction analysis of the separate phases revealed a tetragonal structure with the P4/mm space group for the B phase, and an orthorhombic structure with the R-3cH space group for the L phase. The dielectric and magnetic properties, as well as the magnetoelectric coupling coefficients (αME), were measured as a function of frequency. The dielectric constants at 1 kHz were 1560 for the separate B phase and 2970 for the L-B-L sample. Magnetization measurement of the L-B-L pellet showed that the ferromagnetic transition temperature (TC) was around 304 K. Transverse (α31ME) and longitudinal (α33ME) magnetoelectric coupling coefficients were measured for the L-B-L sample at room temperature, and the maximum values obtained were 0.55 and 0.52 mV cm−1 Oe−1, respectively.