Structural, dielectric, magnetic and ferroelectric properties of (PbTiO3)0.5-(Co0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4)0.5 composite

(PbTiO3)(0.5)-(Co0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4)(0.5) composite has been prepared by the chemical solution method using metallo-organic precursors. The composite solution has been dried at similar to 300 degrees C and post-annealed at 700 degrees C for 3 h to realize ferroelectric-ferrite mixed phase. The X-ray diffraction pattern shows the formation of mixed phase of spinel and tetragonal perovskite structure in the composite without the presence of any impurity phases. The structure of the composite indicates polycrystallinity in nature. The variations of dielectric constant with frequency at room temperature and also with varying temperature at different frequencies (from 1 kHz to 1 MHz) have been studied. The multiferroic behaviour of the composite is evident from coexistence of room temperature ferromagnetism and polarization hysteresis loop in the system. For this composite, the observed value of saturation magnetization is M-s similar to 4 emu/g, coercive field is H-c similar to 164 Oe and P-s similar to 2.5 mu C/cm(2). The present study demonstrates the possibility of the (PbTiO3)(0.5)-(Co0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4)(0.5) system as an important multiferroic composite for wide investigation. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.