Fascinating properties of multifunctional nanocomposites manganite/magnetite

• Successful preparation of novel nanocomposite based on LSMO and magnetite nanoparticles.
• A new phenomena appeared in the prepared nanocomposites is the ferroelectric behavior.
• These multifunctional nanocomposites are promising candidates for spintronic applications.

Multifunctional nanocomposites La0.6Sr0.4MnO3/Fe3O4 (LSMO/Fe3O4) were prepared with different weight ratios and characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), high resolution transmission microscope (HRTEM) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The parent nanomaterials (LSMO and Fe3O4) were prepared by citrate–nitrate auto combustion method and coprecipitation method respectively. Thermal dc magnetization curves were measured from room temperature up to 800 K for the nanocomposites. Vibrating sample magnetometer measurements reveal the enhancement of ferromagnetic properties with increasing magnetite ratio. Dielectric properties were reported and discussed for all investigated nanocomposites. The results recommend the use of such nanocomposites in memory devices and spintronics applications.