Magnetoelectric effect of CoFe2O4/Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 composite ceramics sintered via spark plasma sintering technology

Magnetoelectric (ME) ceramic composites of CoFe2O4 (CFO) and Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 (PZT) with varied composition ratios were sintered using a spark plasma sintering (SPS) method. The characterization of the ceramic compositions and morphologies revealed an even distribution of the CFO and PZT phases. Physical property measurements showed that when the CFO mass percent increased from 8% to 15%, the piezoelectric constant and dielectric constant decreased monotonously, while the saturation magnetization and dielectric loss were enhanced. It was determined that a CFO mass percent of 10% or less resulted in a significant change of the polarization behaviour and a clear enhancement of the ME conversion voltage coefficient (αE) with an applied magnetic field. In contrast, CFO mass percentages greater than 10% had a reduced αE, and their polarization behaviour was not influenced by an applied magnetic field. With an increasing proportion of CFO in the composite, the αE first increased and then decreased. The maximum value of the αE indicated an optimal proportion of CFO (10%), which is attributed to a competition between the improved magnetostriction and deteriorating electric behaviour in the composite with the addition of CFO.