Investigation of electrical and magnetic properties of bulk PZT-NFO particulate composite

Magnetoelectric materials are considered as the most promising materials for multifunctional device application. In this study, we report a polycrystalline 0.9 PbZr_0.52Ti_0.48O₃-0.1 NiFe₂O₄ (0.9PZT-0.1NFO) particulate composite prepared via cost-effective solid-state reaction route. The detailed structural analysis is done by performing Rietveld refinement technique. Both X-ray diffraction and Scanning Electron Microscopy confirmed the presence of both ferrite and ferroelectric phases without any interdiffusion. The magnetic and AC electrical properties like conductivity, dielectric constant, dissipation factor (dielectric loss), and impedance spectroscopy analysis were studied in detail with different frequencies and temperatures. A relatively high dielectric constant at low frequencies and high temperatures was obtained. The transition temperature is found to be 440 °C, which is greater than that of pure PZT. Complex impedance spectroscopy and modulus spectroscopy showed the occurrence of relaxation phenomena due to both grain and grain boundaries. The ac conductivity was studied to understand the conduction mechanism in the prepared sample. The composite exhibits the NTCR behavior. The PE loop confirms the ferroelectric property of the prepared sample. The MH loop shows a well-saturated curve, in which the experimental value of saturation magnetization is well-matched with the value obtained from fitting of MH loop to Law of Approach to Saturation.