Improved magnetoelectric effect in modified (Na0.5Bi0.5)TiO3-BaTiO3-CoFe2O4 lead-free multiferroic composites

Particulate composites of (Na
_0.5
Bi
_0.5
TiO
₃
)-BaTiO
₃
(NBBT)+(Co
_0.6
Zn
_0.4
)(Fe
_1.7
Mn
_0.3
)O
₄
(CZFMO) were synthesized by the conventional ceramic method to study ferroelectric, magnetic and magnetoelectric properties. Ferroelectric switching has been seen in all the ferroelectric and composite ceramics. Remanent polarization of 34 and 26μC/cm
²
was obtained for the pure and 85 mol% NBT-BT ceramics, while a larger leakage current was observed for the remaining composites. The magnetoelectric coefficient (α
_ME
) of 8 mV/cm-Oe was observed in the composition with 65 mol% ferroelectric and the coupling seems to be lower for higher ferroelectric content ceramics. A change of ~10% in saturated magnetization was observed in composites of 65 mol% NBBT, which is an indication of the converse magnetoelectric effect. The results indicate that these lead-free composites are promising and can be tunable for the low-field magnetoelectric applications.