Interplay between the ferromagnetic and ferroelectric phases on the magnetic and impedance analysis of (x)Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3-(1 − x)CoFe2O4 composites

Magnetoelectric (ME) composites with the composition (x)PbZr0.52Ti0.48O3 + (1 − x)CoFe2O4 where x = 0.0, 0.5 and 1.0 are synthesized by ball milling method. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed the presence of both PbZr0.52Ti0.48O3 (PZT) and CoFe2O4 (CFO) pure phases in the PZT-CFO composite. Scanning electron micrographs (SEM) showed distribution of constituent phases throughout the sample. Magnetic hysteresis loop showed ferromagnetic like behaviour of the composite with a coercive field larger than cobalt ferrite. Impedance (Z′ and Z″) and electrical modulus (M′ and M″) spectra suggested two distinct electrical responses which are observed in the temperature range of 300-370 K. These contributions are arising due to the coexistence of two relaxation processes: one is attributed to the high resistive (PZT) phase; while the second one is due to the comparatively conductive (CFO) phase in the PZT-CFO composite, respectively. The electrical conduction and dipolar relaxation are dominated by small polaron hopping (SPH) model, whereas the activation energies calculated from SPH model suggested that p-type carriers are responsible for the conduction in the PZT-CFO composite. Furthermore, ion hopping and conduction mechanism are discussed using an ac conductivity analysis.