Study of structural, electromagnetic and magnetoelectric properties of multiferroic composites*

Abstract
The composition (1−x)Ba_0.985Ca_0.015Zr_0.10Ti_0.90O₃ + (x)Ni_0.48Cu_0.12Zn_0.40Gd_0.04Fe_1.96O₄
(where x =0.0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6 and 1.0) was prepared using the conventional solid state reaction method. The X-Ray diffraction analysis confirmed the coexistence of the two phases of the present research. Microstructural and surface morphology were studied by Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM). Magnetic properties e.g. permeability, magnetic loss and quality factor have been calculated as a function of frequency. The dielectric properties such as dielectric constant and dielectric loss were measured as a function of frequency and temperature at room temperature. M – H hysteresis loops and P – E hysteresis loops confirm the ferromagnetic and ferroelectric nature of the composite samples. Variation of the ME coefficient (α_ME) with the dc magnetic field was also measured for the multiferroic composite samples.