Enhancement of magnetoelectric effect in multiferroic composites of dysprosium and zinc doped BaTiO3-CoFe2O4

To manipulate electric properties by magnetic field in functional multiferroic materials has driven an ever-increasing demand for four state memories. In multiferroic materials, the various physical properties depend upon the interface area between the two ferroic phases. Among functional properties, the magnetoelectric effect arises due to the strain mediated coupling and depends upon the interface area between the two ferroic phases. Keeping this in view, we fabricated (1 - x) Ba0.99Dy0.02Ti0.99O3 - x CoFe1.9Zn0.1O4 (x = 0.02, 0.04 and 0.06) particulate multiferroic composites. In composites, the magnetoelectric effect is found to be dependent on mass fraction of CoFe1.9Zn0.1O4 magnetic phase and crystallite size of composites. The Dy3+ ions have proved themselves as potential candidates to enhance dielectric constant and the Mott theory established hopping conduction mechanism. A typical ferroelectric and ferrimagnetic nature of Ba0.99Dy0.02Ti0.99O3 and CoFe1.9Zn0.1O4 phases is ascertained by tracing P-E and M-H loops respectively. The magneto-crystalline anisotropy for multi-domains is evaluated by using the Law of Approach to saturation. From magnetoelectric coupling studies, high magnetoelectric output is obtained in composites with higher ferrite content. In conclusion, the particulate composites of Ba0.99Dy0.02Ti0.99O3 and CoFe1.9Zn0.1O4 phases coexist with tunable magnetoelectric properties, thereby making them as a multifunctional materials.