Magnetoelectricity in La2NiMnO6 and its PVDF impregnated derivative.

La₂NiMnO₆ is prepared for two different sintering time durations: 4 hour (4H) and 24 hour (24H). The magnetization data suggest a double ferromagnetic (FM) transition for 24H, whereas a single FM transition for 4H sample. The 4H sample was found to possess several microscopic pores compared with the 24H sample, and thus, these pores are vacuum impregnated with polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF). The PVDF in the impregnated sample is found to crystallize in beta phase. The first and second order magnetoelectric coefficients are extracted from the measured data and plotted as a function of temperature. The room temperature region is found to be dominated by the magnetoconductivity/magnetoloss and thus resulting low ME voltage. With lowering of temperature, the situation improves, and for T < 200 K, the loss component becomes negligible so that the true magnetoelectricity is observed. A comparative study on all the three samples (4H, 24H, and 4H + PVDF) shows a significant enhancement in the magnetoelectricity in the 4H + PVDF sample. The highlight of this report is the unique way to arrest the porosity by PVDF impregnation into the pores of La₂NiMnO₆ so that leakage is minimized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]