Magneto-electric properties of in-situ prepared xCoFe < inf > 2 < /inf > O < inf > 4 < /inf > -(1-x)(Ba < inf > 0.85 < /inf > Ca < inf > 0.15 < /inf > )(Zr < inf > 0.1 < /inf > Ti < inf > 0.9 < /inf > )O < inf > 3 < /inf > particulate composites

Abstract

Magneto-electricparticulate composites, [xCoFe2O4– (1-x)(Ba0.85Ca0.15)(Zr0.1Ti0.9)O3](x=30, 40, 50 wt%), were synthesized in-situ by a modified sol-gel method. This novel synthesis method has led to uniform distribution of the magnetostrictive and piezoelectric phases in the composite samples and improved magnetoelectric properties. Using autocombustion method CFO nanoparticles were synthesized and were added to the precursor gel of BCZT, further the composite powders were calcined at 800 °C and sintered at 1300 °C. Composite containing 50 wt% CFO showed a maximum magnetostriction (λmax) of ~88 ppm and strain sensitivity (dλ/dH) of ~41×10−9 Oe−1. 40CFO-60BCZT composite showed a high piezoelectric voltage constant (g33) of 8×10−3 V m/N. All the composites showed magnetoelectric effect and the maximum magnetoelectric coupling coefficient (dE/dH=αME) was measured ~161 mV/cm. Oe for 40CFO-60BCZT sample at its resonance frequency. The effect of microstructure on the magnetoelectric properties of [(x)CFO-(1-x)BCZT] composites has been studied and reported in this investigation as a function of its piezoelectric (BCZT)/ferrite (CoFe2O4) content.