Electrical conduction, dielectric behavior and magnetoelectric effect in (x)BaTiO3 + (1 - x)Ni0.94Co0.01Mn0.05Fe2O4 ME composites

Electrical and magnetoelectric properties of magnetoelectric (ME) composites containing barium titanate as electrical component and a mixed Ni-Co-Mn ferrite as the magnetic component are reported. The ME composites with a general formula (x)BaTiO3 + (1 - x)Ni0.94Co0.01Mn0.05Fe2O4 where x varies as 0, 0.55, 0.70, 0.85 and 1 were prepared by standard double sintering ceramic method. The presence of both the phases was confirmed by X-ray diffraction technique. The dc resistivity was measured as a function of temperature. The variation of dielectric constant (ε) and loss tangent (tan δ) with frequency (100 Hz-1 MHz) and with temperature was studied. The conduction is explained on the basis of small polaron model based on ac conductivity measurements. The static value of ME conversion factor i.e. dc (ME)H was studied as function of intensity of magnetic field. The changes were observed in dielectric properties as well as ME effect as the molar ratio of the components was varied. A maximum value of ME conversion factor of 610 μV/cm Oe was observed in the case of a composite containing 15 mol% ferrite phase