Structure and properties of PMN–PT/NZFO laminates and composites

Magnetoelectric (ME) materials of laminated and bulk composites of 0.65Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3–0.35PbTiO3 (PMN–PT) and Zn-doped ferrite Ni0.8Zn0.2Fe3O4 (NZFO) were prepared. The weight ratio of PMN–PT to NZFO in the composites was 5:1. ME coefficients of the laminated and bulk samples at 1.1 kOe magnetic bias were 91 mV/cm Oe and 64 mV/cm Oe, respectively. The ME coefficient of the bulk sample reached 406 mV/cm Oe under a magnetic bias of 0.26 kOe, which was much higher than the reported value in the composite of PZT and nickel ferrite. One of the findings in this study is that a non-uniform distribution of magnetic material in the bulk may lead to enhanced ME effect.