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Multiferroic composites consisting of a single-phase multiferroic [0.6(PbZr0.53Ti0.47O3)-0.4(PbFe0.5Ta0.5)O3] as a matrix and a magnetostrictive phase (Co0.6Zn0.4Fe1.7Mn0.3O4) dispersed in the matrix are fabricated via hybrid synthesis technique. The structure and surface morphology studies using x-ray diffraction and field emission scanning electron microscopy techniques indicate the formation of 3-0 type particulate composites. Coexistence of soft-magnetic behavior and ferroelectric characteristics are confirmed for composites from magnetization vs magnetic field (M–H) and polarization vs electric field (P–E) measurements, respectively. Magneto-dielectric (MD) measurement shows significant changes in the dielectric properties with the application of a magnetic field, indicating the existence of strong MD behavior. The biquadratic nature of magneto-electric (ME) coupling is described by the Landau free energy equation arising from the strain transfer at the interfaces between the constituent phases. The direct magneto-electric voltage coefficient measurement also confirms very strong coupling between ferroelectricity and magnetism and supports the strain-mediated magneto-electric effect in composites. The Φ = 0.3 composite exhibits the maximum ME coefficient of 20.72 mV/cm Oe with MS = 24.62 emu/g, HC = 59.66 Oe, and piezoelectric coefficient value d33 = 19 pC/N. The strong magneto-electric effect along with low dielectric loss at room temperature in these composites suggests their suitability for multifunctional magneto-electric device applications such as magnetic sensors, etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, we have studied the phase transition and magneto-electric properties of a 70 wt. % Pb(Fe0.5Nb0.5)O3–30 wt. % Co0.6Zn0.4Fe1.7Mn0.3O4 (70 wt. % PFN–30 wt. % CZFMO) multiferroic composite that exhibits a maximum magneto-electric (ME) coefficient of 26.78 mV/cm Oe at room temperature. Raman analysis confirms the formation of composite and development of strain with the shifting of Raman modes. The local symmetry breaking of end members of the composite is observed by the splitting of Raman modes. The first-order derivative of magnetization with temperature (dM/dT vs T) shows anomalies across 140 K due to the PFN phase, whereas the anomaly around 250 K is due to the spin glass transition of the CZFMO phase. The magnetization vs magnetic field (M–H) study at different temperatures reveals the existence of superparamagnetic behavior above 300 K. The temperature-dependent dielectric behavior of the composite shows an anomaly around ferroelectric phase transition (Tm) for the PFN phase along with the broad relaxation peak arising due to the CZFMO phase. The linear behavior of magnetocapacitance (MD%) with the square of magnetization (M2) suggests the existence of biquadratic ME coupling. The ME study on the composite suggests the existence of both direct and converse ME effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this report, we have investigated the effect of BaTiO3 on the preliminary structural analysis, ferroelectric phase transition and electrical properties of (1 − x) P b (F e 0.5 N b 0.5 ) O 3 − x B a T i O 3 (P F N − B T) (x = 0 , 0.025 , 0.05, and 0.1) solid solutions. Conventional solid-state reaction technique is adopted to synthesize P F N − B T solid solution. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis is used to study the preliminary structural analysis, which suggests the formation of the single-phase materials. The surface morphology is studied using field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM). The temperature-dependent dielectric properties display a broad diffuse phase transition from ferroelectric to paraelectric state and the phase transition temperature was found to be decreased with an increase in BT concentrations. Ferroelectric property of the solid solutions is confirmed by the polarization vs. electric field (P–E) loops study at room temperature. Variation of AC conductivity with frequency and temperature is also studied. The addition of BT leads to a decrease in the dielectric loss and phase transition temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spinel ferrites have been widely studied due to their remarkable properties such as high saturation magnetisation, large magnetic permeability, and high electrical resistivity. Among the oxides-based magneto strictive spinel ferrite, CoFe2O4 (CFO) possess the highest value of absolute magnetostriction coefficient (–110 ppm). But CFO has the disadvantage of large magnetic anisotropy and high coercivity. Therefore, doping of zinc (Zn) at Co-site of CFO is reported to reduce the magnetic coercivity and increases the resistivity (108Ω) keeping the magnetostriction coefficient with a sizable value. Also, substitution of Zn for Co in CFO reduces magnetic anisotropy. So, in view of this we have prepared Zn modified CFO compound: Co0.9Zn0.1Fe2O4 using sol-gel combustion technique. The room temperature (RT) XRD patterns indicate the formation of single-phase material without appearance of any impurity phases within the detection limit of X-ray diffractometer. The Rietveld refinement on the RT XRD pattern of CZFO sample was carried out using cubic crystal structure with space group Fd-3m. A good agreement between the experimental and the fitted data has been observed. The average crystallite size for the composition was calculated from the XRD patterns using Williamson–Hall method. Scanning electron micrographs displays homogeneous distribution of grains throughout the sample microstructure with the presence of minute amount of pores. The dielectric and electrical properties were studied as function of frequencies at different temperatures. Complex impedance spectroscopic technique study on this sample suggests existence of non-Debye type dielectric relaxation behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiferroic composites are promising candidates for magnetic field sensors, next-generation low power memory and spintronic devices, as they exhibit much higher magnetoelectric (ME) coupling and coupled ordering parameters compared to the single-phase multiferroics. Hence, the 3-0 type particulate multiferroic composites having general formula (1 − Φ)[PbFe0.5Nb0.5O3]-Φ[Co0.6Zn0.4Fe1.7Mn0.3O4] (Φ = 0.0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 1.0, (1 − Φ) PFN-ΦCZFMO) were prepared using a hybrid synthesis technique. Preliminary structural and microstructural analysis were carried out using XRD and FESEM techniques, which suggest the formation of 3-0 type particulate composite without the presence of any impurity phases. The multiferroic behaviour of the composites is studied with polarization versus electric field (P-E) and magnetization versus magnetic field (M-H) characteristics at room temperature. The nature of ME coupling was investigated elaborately by employing the Landau free energy equation along with the magneto-capacitance measurement. This investigation suggests the existence of biquadratic nature of ME coupling (P2M2). The magneto-electric coupling measurement also suggests that strain mediated domain coupling between the ferroelectric and magnetic ordering is responsible for the magneto-electric behaviour. The obtained value of direct ME coefficient 26.78 mV/cm-Oe for Φ = 0.3, found to be higher than the well-known single-phase materials and polycrystalline composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The acrylamide polymer gel template method has been adopted to synthesize single phase Dy1–xGdxMnO3 (DGMO, x= 0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2) ceramics. The Rietveld refinement of x-ray diffraction patterns recorded at room temperature suggests that DGMO ceramics are stabilized in an orthorhombic crystal structure with a Pnma space group. Gd3+ cations play an important role in stabilizing the orthorhombic phase and the unit cell volume increases with x. We report the phonon spectra of pure and Gd-substituted DyMnO3 (DMO) and their mode assignments. Raman modes are softened with x due to the relaxation in the stiffness constants upon the increase in the volume of the unit cell. The magnetic transition temperatures corresponding to TN(Dy) and Tlock decrease with the increase in Gd concentration as inferred from the temperature dependent magnetization data (M–T curve). The magnetization value increases below TN(Dy) with the increase in the Gd concentration as observed from the M–T plot. The magnetic hysteresis loop is fitted to extract ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic/paramagnetic contributions for each composition x. Fittings of M–H loops indicate the increase in the magnetic contribution below TN(Dy) upon increasing the Gd dopant concentrations, while that decreases above TN(Dy). The temperature dependent specific heat data identifies these magnetic transition temperatures TN(Dy), Tlock and TN(Mn). Furthermore, magnetic field dependencies on TN(Dy), Tlock and TN(Mn) are studied in an elaborate manner. Both DMO and DGMO samples are found to be viable candidates for magnetic refrigeration applications in cryogenic temperature region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Acrylamide polymer gel template method has been used to prepare single phase DyMnO 3. • Heat capacity measurement shows three transitions due to T N (Dy), T lock and T N (Mn). • Magnetic field strongly affect T N (Dy) and T lock as observed in heat capacity data. • The magnetic study reveals the presence of two transitions due to T N (Dy) and T lock. • Increase in weak ferromagnetic behaviour with decrease in temperature. Abstract Single phase polycrystalline DyMnO 3 (DMO) was synthesized using acrylamide polymer gel template method. We report the structural, magnetic, specific heat and dielectric properties of DMO over wide experimental conditions. Room temperature XRD pattern shows the formation of singe phase material without any impurity. The magnetic properties such as magnetization versus temperature (M vs. T) and magnetization versus magnetic field (M vs. H) were studied around the transition temperatures region. The temperature dependent magnetization data suggest two phase transitions corresponding to the lock-in temperature below which ferroelectric ordering exist (around 19 K; T lock) and antiferromagnetic (AFM) ordering of Dy spin (around 8 K; T N (Dy)). The magnetic hysteresis obtained were fitted to extract weak ferromagnetic (FM) and antiferromagnetic/paramagnetic (AFM/PM) contribution to the magnetic data. The order of magnetic transitions were analyzed from Arrott plot. The temperature dependent specific heat measurement shows all three phase transitions corresponding to (i) AFM ordering of Mn spin (around 38 K; T N (Mn)), (ii) T lock transition and (iii) T N (Dy) transition. The effect of magnetic field to the transitions were studied using specific heat capacity measurement. The peak intensity of T N (Dy) decreases on the application of magnetic field whereas peak intensity of T lock increases with increase in magnetic field in specific heat measurement. Further the third anomaly, T N (Mn) remains more or less unaffected by the application of magnetic field. The intrinsic dielectric behaviour of the material was observed up to 160 K, above this temperature there is large increase in dielectric value due to the contribution from Maxwell- Wagner polarization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]