Structural, electrical, magnetic and magnetoelectric properties of composites

•We are reporting structural, electrical and magnetic properties of NZF–BSZT composites.•P–E and M–H loops confirm ferroelectric and ferrimagnetic nature of composite samples.•M–H loops for electrically poled and un-poled samples were studied to prove ME effect.•The maximum value of ME coefficient (1.6 mV/cm Oe) was observed for y=0.10 at 750 Oe.

The magnetoelectric (ME) composites with composition (y)Ni0.8Zn0.2Fe2O4+(1−y) Ba0.90Sr0.10Zr0.04Ti0.96O3 ((y)NZF+(1−y)BSZT) (where y=0.00–0.15 in wt%) were prepared by the conventional solid state reaction route. The existence of both phases was confirmed by the X-Ray diffraction technique and the lattice parameters for all samples were calculated. The dielectric properties such as dielectric constant and dielectric loss were measured as a function of temperature at different frequencies. P–E hysteresis loops and M–H hysteresis loops confirm the ferroelectric and ferrimagnetic nature of the composite samples. M–H loops for electrically poled and un-poled samples were compared to prove ME evidences. Variation of ME coefficient (α) with dc magnetic field was also studied for all composite samples. The maximum value of α (1.6 mV/cm Oe) was observed for y=0.10 at 750 Oe.