Structure, Ferroelectric, and Magnetoelectric Properties of Bulk PZT–NiFe1.9Co0.02O4 – δ Composites

The phase composition, microstructure, and dielectric, ferroelectric, magnetic, and magnetoelectric properties of bulk ceramic (1 – x)PZT–xNiFe_1.9Co_0.02O_{4 – δ} composites with 3–0 connectivity have been studied. Using X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy, it has been established that the ferrimagnetic (spinel- like) and ferroelectric (tetragonal perovskite-like) phases separately exist in the composites of all compositions. The simultaneous existence of ferroelectric and ferrimagnetic properties in the composites is confirmed by measuring their P(E) and σ(B) hysteresis loops and studying the temperature dependences of dielectric and magnetic properties. The synthesized composites have high magnetoelectric characteristics: their voltage coefficient at x = 0.4 is 215 mV/A at a frequency of 1 kHz and 130 V/A at an electromechanical resonance frequency of 380 kHz.