Resonant and non-resonant microwave absorption in the magnetoelectric YCrO3 through ferro-paraelectric transition

An electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) study in the polycrystalline magnetoelectric YCrO₃ is carried out at X-band (8.8-9.8 GHz) in the 300-510 K temperature range. For all the temperatures, the EPR spectra show a single broad line attributable to Cr³⁺ (S = 3/2) ions. The onset of the ferro-paraelectric transition has been determined from the temperature dependence of three main parameters deduced from the EPR spectra: the peak-to-peak linewidth (ΔH_pp), the integrated intensity (I_EPR) and the g-factor; these parameters indicate a behavior in agreement with a diffuse phase transition. Low-field microwave absorption (LFMA) is used to give a further knowledge on this material; where this technique also gives evidence of the ferro-paraelectric transition.     

Magnetocapacitance in BaTiO3-CoFe2O4 nanocomposites

We report on the magnetoelectric characterization of epitaxial CoFe₂O₄-BaTiO₃ nanocomposites grown by rf sputtering on Nb-doped SrTiO₃ (001). Multiferroicity of the material is corroborated with both, ferroelectric and ferromagnetic hysteresis loops. Magnetoelectric coupling is investigated via magnetocapacitance measurements; a change of the capacitance of about 2% is observed for an applied magnetic field of 8 T. The possible origins of this magnetocapacitance are discussed.     

In situ dynamical control of the strain and magnetoresistance of La0.7Ca0.15Sr0.15MnO3 thin films using the magnetostriction of Terfenol-D alloy

We fabricated a magnetoelectric laminate structure consisting of a magnetostrictive Tb_0.3Dy_0.7Fe_1.92 (Terfenol-D) plate bonded to a La_0.7Ca_0.15Sr_0.15MnO₃ (LCSMO)/0.67Pb(Mg_1/3Nb_2/3)O₃-0.33PbTiO₃ (PMN-PT) structure where a LCSMO film was epitaxially grown on a PMN-PT single crystal substrate. When a dc magnetic field is applied perpendicular to the film plane, the magnetoresistance of the LCSMO film in the paramagnetic (ferromagnetic) state for the LCSMO/PMN-PT/Terfenol-D structure is larger (smaller) than that for the LCSMO/PMN-PT structure without Terfenol-D. These effects are caused by the magnetostriction-induced in-plane compressive strain in the Terfenol-D, which are transferred to the PMN-PT substrate, leading to a reduction in the in-plane tensile strain of the epitaxial LCSMO film and thereby modifying the magnetoresistance of the film.     

溶胶-凝胶法制备BiFeO3粉体及其表征

以硝酸铁和硝酸铋为原料,冰醋酸和乙二醇单甲醚为溶剂制备BiFeO3粉体。采用XRD,SEM,EDS,TG-DSC以及FT-IR等手段对产物的物相、形貌、结构等进行分析,研究煅烧温度和保温时间对BiFeO3粉体的影响。结果表明:BiFeO3的最佳煅烧温度为550~600℃,保温时间为0.5~1.5h。另外,在BiFeO3制备过程中对Bi含量进行过量添加处理,发现当Bi过量3%~6%时,制备出的BiFeO3粉体杂相最少。     

Nano‐Domain Pinning in Ferroelastic‐Ferroelectrics by Extended Structural Defects

Most ferroelectrics are also ferroelastics (hysteretic stress‐strain relationship and response to mechanical stresses). The interactions between ferroelastic twin walls and ferroelectric domain walls are complex and only partly understood, hindering the technological potential of these materials. Here we study via atomic force microscopy the pinning of 180‐degree ferroelectric domain walls in lead zirconate titanate (PZT). Our observations satisfy all three categories of ferroelectric‐ferroelastic domain interaction proposed by Bornarel, Lajzerowicz, and Legrand.     

Structural,strong magnetic exchange,and room temperature multiferroic properties of single-phase 0.75BiFeO3–BaFe1/2Nb1/2O3 bulk ceramics

The ceramic 0.75BiFeO₃–BaFe_1/2Nb_1/2O₃ (0.75BF–BaFN) exhibits enhanced magnetisation and polar order regions at room temperature. This study investigated the microscopic structure and the magnetic, ferroelectric, magneto-ferroelectric, and optical properties of 0.75BF–BaFN by conducting experiments and performing density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Evidence of weak amplitude R-type octahedral rotations was observed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). X-ray diffraction (XRD) refinement revealed that the P1 space group more appropriately described the structure of 0.75BF–BaFN. The weak influence of the magnetic field H on the polarisation of 0.7BF–BaFN and 0.75BF–BaFN ceramics was investigated. A notable magnetic enhancement was observed in 0.75BF–BaFN ceramics with a saturation magnetisation of 0.19 μB per Fe. DFT calculations predicted that the stable magnetic configuration of 0.75BF–BaFN is a G-type antiferromagnetic (AFM) structure. This study found stronger magnetic interactions between first-neighbour Fe ions (Ja = 12 meV) compared to pure BiFeO₃. With a significant remanent moment, strong exchange coupling, and magnetic field control of polarisation, 0.75BF–BaFN may facilitate the development of room temperature single-phase magnetoelectric components.     

Structural,ferroelectric, magnetic and magnetoelectric properties of (1-x) Ba0.85Ca0.15Zr0.1Ti0.9O3 -x La0.67Sr0.33MnO3 lead-free magnetoelectric composites

The influence of an additional La_0.67Sr_0.33MnO₃ (LSMO) magnetic phase on the structural, ferromagnetic, ferroelectric, and magnetoelectric properties of Ba_0.85Ca_0.15Zr_0.1Ti_0.9O₃ (BCZT) ferroelectric phase was studied for composites of (1-x)BCZT -xLSMO (x = 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100%). The ferroelectric BCZT sample showed a perovskite single phase formation with a tetragonal crystal structure of the P4mm space group, and the magnetic phase of LSMO presented a rhombohedral crystal structure of R3c space group as shown by XRD. The composite sample with 25% LSMO exhibited large ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties with remnant, saturation polarization, and coercive electric field P_r ~7.74 μC/cm², P_s ~11.69 μC/cm² and E_C ~12.22 kV/cm with a piezoelectric coefficient d₃₃ ~ 231 pC/N. The magnetic characterization for the composites showed that the sample containing 75% of LSMO revealed the highest remnant, saturation magnetization, and coercive field of M_r ~1.358 emu/g, M_s ~19.17 emu/g, and H_C ~33.19 Oe, respectively. Moreover, it revealed the largest magnetoelectric coupling coefficient α_ME ~2.51 mV/cm.Oe with high coupling quality at a lower applied magnetic field. The results highlight the value of these composites as lead-free room temperature magnetoelectric sensors and actuators.