Magnetoelectric properties in NCMF/PZT particulate and bulk laminate composites

Particulate composites and bulk laminates of Ni-Co-Mn ferrite (NCMF) and lead zirconate titanate (PZT) were synthesized by the solid state synthesis route. The magnetoelectric (ME) particulate composites with (x)NCMF + (1 - x)PZT (x = 0, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7 and 1) have been synthesized to study the effect of the PZT mole fraction on the ME output in particulate composites. The presence of two phases in the particulates was confirmed by XRD and SEM. The geometry of the bulk laminate samples being NCMF-PZT-NCMF alternate layers, ME measurements were carried out on both particulate and larninates using the dynamic ME set-up. The ME Output is found to vary with the PZT mole fraction in the particulates and with the thickness ratio in the laminates. The particulate composite with 0.6 NCMF + 0.4 PZT revealed an ME output of 741 mV cm(-1) at a fixed 64 Oe (1.008 kHz) ac magnetic field and a 0.7 kOe dc bias field. For the laminate composites the ME output as a function of the thickness ratio and the de and ac magnetic fields has been studied. The highest ME output of 3.53 V cm(-1) was observed at a fixed ac magnetic field of 64 Oe (1.008 kHz ac frequency) for the 2-2 laminate sample. The ME coefficient (alpha) was calculated for the samples. It is observed that the ME output is higher in the laminate composites when compared with the particulate composites due to higher mechanical coupling and better stress transfer between the phases.