Investigation on the effect of magnetostriction on the magnetoelectric coupling of BaTiO₃ - Ni_(1-x) Zn_(x) Fe₂O₄ multiferroic particulate composites

BaTiO₃-Ni_(1-x)Zn_(x)Fe₂O₄(x = 0,0.5,1) multiferroic composites with varying magnetic phases are prepared by combined sol-gel and polyol method. The physical and chemical properties of the systems are studied. The detailed analysis on the role of magnetostriction in magnetoelectric coupling is carried out by varying the dopant in magnetic phase. The coexistence of two phases of nanosized structure, without any impurities is confirmed from XRD Rietveld refinement. The mixed composite nature, well-defined connectivity between two phases and the crystallinity are well established from the HRTEM - SAED analysis. The multiferroic property of composites are verified by analysing the ferroelectric P-E loop and magnetic M−H loop. The ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic nature of BaTiO₃-Ni_(1-x)Zn_(x)Fe₂O₄is due to the mixed and normal spinel structure of the magnetostrictive phases in the composite. The BaTiO₃-Ni_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄ composite exhibited enhanced magnetoelectric coupling due to the large magnetostrictive strain induced by the Ni_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄ on BaTiO₃.