Magnetic and magnetoelectric properties of nickel ferrite–lead iron niobate relaxor composites

Magnetoelectric effect in bulk ceramic and multilayer (laminated) structures consisting of 6 nickel ferrite and 7 lead iron niobate relaxor (PFN) layers was investigated. This paper describes the synthesis and tape-casting process for ferrimagnetic Ni0.3Zn0.62Cu0.08Fe2O4 ferrite and multiferroic relaxor Pb(Fe0.5Nb0.5)O3. X-ray analysis and studies of the electrical and magnetic properties were performed for bulk and layered composites. Complex impedance and dielectric permittivity of bulk and layered composites were studied in a temperature range from −40 to 300 °C and a frequency range of 10 Hz to 2 MHz. Magnetic hysteresis, ZFC–FC curves and dependencies of magnetization versus temperature for nickel ferrite, PFN relaxor and magnetoelectric composites were measured with a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) in an applied magnetic field up to 85 kOe at −269 °C. Magnetoelectric effect at room temperature was investigated as a function of static magnetic field (0.3–6.5 kOe).