Dielectric, ferroelectric, magnetic and magnetoelectric properties of PMN-PT based ME composites

A systematic study of magnetoelectric composite system (x)CoFe2O4 + (1-x) Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)(0.67)Ti0.33O3 with x=0, 0.15, 0.30, 0.45 and 1 was carried out. The lattice strain was calculated using Williamson and Hall equation, which depends on the content of constituent phases in composites. The microstructure was studied using scanning electron microscopy. The ferroelectric transition temperature was independent of the content of individual phases, suggesting that the ferroelectric character is maintained in the composite. Observed P-E and M-H loops indicate that the multiferroic nature of magnetoelectric ceramics is dependent on the content of individual phases. The variation of magnetostriction with dc magnetic field was studied. The maximum magnetoelectric voltage coefficient of 7.2 mV/cm Oe is obtained for the synthesized composites. The magnetoelectric measurements are well explained with magnetostrictive behavior of the magnetic phase. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.