Magnetoelectric effect in three phase y (Ni0.5Cu0.2Zn0.3Fe2O4) + (1 − y) (50% BaTiO3 + 50% PZT) ME composites

A series of y (Ni0.5Cu0.2Zn0.3Fe2O4) + (1 − y) (50% BaTiO3 + 50% PZT) with y = 0.15, 0.30 and 0.45 were prepared by standard solid state reaction method. The structural analysis carried out by X-ray diffraction confirmed the presence of ferrite and ferroelectric phases without any chemical reaction. The saturation magnetization (Ms) and magnetic moment (ηB) are reported for the composites. The saturation magnetization for composites increases with increase in ferrite content. The variation of dielectric constant (έ) and tan δ with frequency in the range 20 Hz to 1 MHz was studied. The variation of dielectric constant with temperature is also studied at four different frequencies viz. 1 kHz, 10 kHz, 100 kHz and 1 MHz. The samples show a transition from ferroelectric to paraelectric state near the Curie temperature. The magnetoelectric coefficient (dE/dH)H was measured as a function of intensity of dc magnetic field. The maximum value of ME coefficient was observed to be 975 μV Oe−1 cm−1 for composition with highest ferrite content.