Enhanced magneto-electric coupling properties of MnFe2O4-PbZr0.52Ti0.48O3 multiferroic liquids tuning by volume fraction

Magnetoelectric materials that exhibit a large magnetoelectric response at room temperature or higher are crucial for practical applications. However, the direct flip-flopping of magnetic polarization in conventional solid-phase materials under an applied magnetic/electric field is difficult to achieve. In this study, a multiferroic liquid consisting of insulating base liquid and dispersed magnetoelectric materials was utilized as an alternative. MnFe2O4- PbZr0.52Ti0.48O3 composite liquids with varying volume fractions (0.5%, 1%, 5%) were prepared by mixing surface-modified MnFe2O4 and PbZr0.52Ti0.48O3 particles in a 1: 1 mass ratio and dispersing them in insulating dimethylsilicone oil. The microstructure, dielectric, ferroelectric, and magnetoelectric coupling effects of the composite liquids were investigated comparatively. Under the effect of magnetic field, the dielectric constants, Pr and Pmax were increased to some extent, with a greater increase observed with increasing volume fraction. The magnetic dielectric response was largest at 74.16% when the volume fraction was 5%. The establishment and disintegration of the magnetoelectric particle chain structure occurred when the magnetic field was applied and withdrawn, resulting in a sawtooth-shaped dielectric curve with a response time of approximately 0.5 s. At a volume fraction of 5%, a higher density of chain structure was produced by the magnetoelectric field, resulting in a very large "clamping effect" between the chains and a very saturated hysteresis line. The magnetoelectric voltage coefficient (aME) at room temperature was as high as 46.23 V/(cm Oe), and showed good fatigue resistance of the liquid.