Magnetoelectric composite ceramics of nickel ferrite and lead zirconate titanate via in situ processing

Magnetoelectric (ME) composite ceramics of NiFe₂O₄ (NFO) and lead zirconate titanate (PZT) were synthesized by a simple in situ processing based on a sol–gel method followed by a conventional sintering. X-ray diffraction patterns and scanning electron microscopy images revealed that this processing can produce two pure phases simultaneously. The in situ grown magnetic NiFe₂O₄ grains were well dispersed in the PZT matrix. The results demonstrated an attractive ME response of about 28.5 V cm⁻¹ Oe⁻¹ in the 0.35 NiFe₂O₄/0.65PZT at a resonance frequency of around 287 kHz.