Y3Fe5O12/Na,Bi,Sr-doped PZT particulate magnetoelectric composites

• Y3Fe5O12/Na,Bi,Sr-doped PZT particulate magnetoelectric composites were prepared.
• The decrease in sintering temperature reduces the content of foreign phase of ZrO2.
• Connectivity pattern is important factor for magnetoelectric response.
• The value of ME coefficient reaches ~1,6 mV/(cm Oe) in 0–3 composites.

Magnetoelectric (ME) composites of Na, Bi, Sr substituted lead zirconate titanate (PZT) and yttrium iron garnet having representative formula (100−х) wt% Na,Bi,Sr-doped PZT (PZTNB-1)+х wt% Y3Fe5O12 (YIG) with х=10–90 were manufactured using powdered components obtained through sol–gel processes. It is shown that the decrease in sintering temperature provided by the use of finely dispersed PZTNB-1 and YIG powders allows to significantly reduce content of fluorite-like foreign phase based on zirconium oxide, which forms due to the interfacial interaction during heat treatment and becomes stabilized by yttrium oxide. Connectivity has considerable effect on the value of ME coefficient of composite ceramics. With the same x value, ΔЕ/ΔН characteristic decreases when changing from 0–3-type structured composites (PZT grains embedded in ferrite matrix) to 3-3-(interpenetrating network of two phases) and especially 3-0-type samples (YIG grains embedded in PZT matrix); in the last case this can be attributed to the substrate clamping effect when ferrite grains are clamped with piezoelectric matrix. ΔЕ/ΔН value of 0–3 composites with х=40–60 wt% was found to be ∼1.6 mV/(cm Oe).