Structural and dielectric studies on Magneto Electric Nano-composites

Manganese Zinc Ferrite (MZF) and magneto-electric composites, (MZF)(x)(BT)(1-x) with x = 15%, 30% & 45% labeled as ME1, ME2 and ME3 were prepared by solution combustion method. The structures of MZF, BT and composites were independently probed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies and confirmed their nanocrystalline phase. The peaks observed in the XRD spectrum indicated spinel cubic structure for MZF ferrite and tetragonal perovskite structure for BT and, both spinel and pervoskite structures for nanocomposites. Surface morphology of the samples has been investigated using Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM). Fine nano particle clusters have been observed on the images of FESEM and size of the nano particles were determined. Dielectric studies were carried out in a Hioki make LCR Hi-Tester 3250 at a temperature of 300K over a wide range of frequencies from 100Hz to 1MHz. The dielectric constant,epsilon', and dielectric loss factor,epsilon '', were found to decrease rapidly in the low frequency region and became almost constant in the high frequency region. The electrical conductivity deduced from the measured dielectric data has been thoroughly analyzed and found that the conduction mechanism in these nanocomposites is in conformity with electron hopping model.