Electrical conduction and magnetoelectric effect in ferroelectric rich (x)Ni0.9Zn0.1Fe2O4 + (1 − x)PZT ME composites

Magnetoelectric composites with ferrite–ferroelectric compositions (x)Ni0.9Zn0.1Fe2O4 + (1 − x)PZT in which x varies as 0, 0.15, 0.30, 0.45 and 1 mol% were prepared by using a conventional ceramic double-sintering method. The phase analysis was carried out using X-ray diffraction technique, which confirms that there is no any intermediate phases present in the composites. The variation of dielectric constant (ε˙) and loss tangent (tan δ) in the frequency range 20 Hz to 1 MHz was studied. The conduction phenomenon was explained on the basis of a small polaron hopping model. The confirmation of this phenomenon was made with the help of ac conductivity measurements. The dc resistivity was measured as a function of temperature in the temperature range from 300 to 800 °C. Static magnetoelectric conversion factor (dE/dH)H was measured as a function of magnetic field. All composites show linear decrease of magnetoelectric conversion in the presence of static magnetic field.