Raman scattering spectra, magnetic and ferroelectric properties of BiFeO3-CoFe2O4 nanocomposite thin films structure

Multiferroic (1−x)BiFeO3(BFO)-xCoFe2O4(CFO) (x=0 and 0.1) nanocomposite thin films were deposited on ITO coated glass using sol-gel spin coating technique. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy examinations confirm the coexistence of both perovskite BFO and spinel CFO phases. The effect of addition of CFO in BFO matrix has been studied on Raman spectra, magnetic and ferroelectric properties. BFO/CFO nanocomposite showed good magnetic behavior (Ms~40.3 emu/cm3, Mr~12.9 emu/cm3, Hc~90 Oe) with no change in ferroelectric properties. The strain analysis carried out by Raman spectroscopy reveals that both BFO and CFO bands are found to be strained in BFO/CFO composite nanostructure. The strain of the bands is discussed on the basis of lattice mismatch (interfacial stress) between CFO (a=0.839 nm) and BFO (a=0.396 nm) phases.