Enhanced magnetoelectric effect in Lead-Free piezoelectric BaZr0.2Ti0.8O3 − 0.5 Ba0.7Ca0.3TiO3 and Fe-rich magnetostrictive Co0.8Fe2.2-xDyxO4 nanocomposites for energy harvesting applications

• Published in: Materials science & engineering. B, Solid-state materials for advanced technology Solid-state materials for advanced technology, 2023-05, Vol.291, p.116363, Article 116363
• Main Authors: Kharat, Shahaji P., Gaikwad, Swati K., Baraskar, Bharat G., Das, Debabrata, Kambale, R.C., Kolekar, Y.D., Ramana, C.V.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Dielectric Properties; Interfacial Effects; Magentoelectric Composites; Phase-Composition; Piezoelectric Coefficient (d33), Magnetoelectric (M−E) Effect
• ISSN: 0921-5107; 1873-4944
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mseb.2023.116363

•Enhanced magnetoelectric phenomenon reported for the ME-composites made using Pb-free ferroelectric phase BaZr0.2Ti0.8O3–0.5Ba0.7Ca0.3TiO3 (BZT-BCT) and magnetostrictive phase Co0.8Fe(2.2-x)DyxO4 (CFDO).•The ME composites were synthesized by varying the magnetostrictive CFDO phase, x = 0.000(ME1), 0.025 (ME2), 0.050 (ME3) and 0.075 (ME4)•The remarkable effect of CFDO-phase variation on the structural, dielectric, ferroelectric, piezoelectric, and magnetoelectric properties of the ME-composites is demonstrated.•The P-E loops confirm the retrained ferroelectric properties in these ME composites even after combining with the magnetic phase.•Structure-chemistry-property correlation established for optimization of the ME-composites in energy harvesting applications. The design, discovery and development of magnetoelectric (ME) composites with enhanced properties and performance opens up further opportunities to explore new scientific aspects and to develop next-generation electromagnetic devices. Nevertheless, the engineered complex ME composites with multi-phase interfacial chemistry have rarely been reported. In this context, in the present work, enhanced magnetoelectric phenomenon reported for the ME-composites made using lead-free ferroelectric phase BaZr0.2Ti0.8O3–0.5Ba0.7Ca0.3TiO3 (BZT-BCT) and magnetostrictive phase Co0.8Fe(2.2-x)DyxO4 (CFDO). The ME composites were synthesized by varying the magnetostrictive CFDO phase, where Dy(x) varied as x = 0.000(ME1), 0.025 (ME2), 0.050 (ME3) and 0.075 (ME4). The effect of varying CFDO phase on the structure, morphology, microstructure, density, piezoelectric, dielectric, ferroelectric and magnetoelectric properties of the ME-composites is evaluated. X-ray diffraction analyses of all ME-composites confirm the tetragonal structure of the BZT-BCT ferroelectric phase and spinel cubic structure of the CFDO ferrimagnetic phase. Raman spectroscopic analyses also confirm and validate the respective phases with a clear signature presence of the characteristics modes. Granular, dense microstructure with a uniform particle size distribution evidenced in scanning electron microscopy imaging analyses. The physical density measurements indicate that the ME composites attain a density in the range of 6.0–6.4 g/cm3; density increases with increasing CFDO phase. Frequency dispersion profiles of the dielectric constant exhibit a maximum dielectric constant for ME1 composite while a sharp decrease in dielectric constant at higher