Multiferroic properties of SBN–LSMO, SBN–NZCFO and SBN–LSMO–NZCFO particulate composites

Recent studies on nanocrystalline magnetodielectric (MD) composites have shown interesting results. Further, the Sr_0.5Ba_0.5Nb₂O₆ (0.5SBN) has proved to be a promising lead free ferroelectric phase to form the magnetoelectric (ME) composites. However, no detailed report on the investigations of MD properties of these composites is available in the literature. Therefore, the present paper reports synthesis and characterization of Sr_0.5Ba_0.5Nb₂O₆ (0.5SBN) based ME and MD composites. The ferromagnetic phases La_0.67Sr_0.33MnO₃ (0.33LSMO) and Ni_0.85Zn_0.1Co_0.05Fe₂O₄ (0.1NZCFO) are so synthesized that both the compositions possess crystallites of nearly 80 nm. 0.5SBN is synthesized using conventional ceramic sintering process, while 0.33LSMO and 0.1NZCFO are synthesized via hydroxide co-precipitation route followed by annealing at higher temperatures. The crystal structure is determined to confirm correct phases of individual compositions. The composites are investigated for the crystal structure, microstructure, dielectric properties, ME coefficients and MD properties. Further, the magnetoelectric coefficient α is sufficiently large. Here, the magnetodielectric properties show presence of stress induced and interfacial polarization induced contributions to the magnetocapacitance (M_c).