Direct magnetoelectric and magnetodielectric studies of electrospun Ba2Ni2Fe12O22–Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3 core–shell nanofibers

Abstract

This article reports the synthesis of barium nickel hexaferrite-lead zirconium titanate (Ba2Ni2Fe12O22-Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3) core-shell nanofibers through sol-gel electrospinning method. Direct magnetoelectric and magnetodielectric coupling studies were performed on the synthesized electrospun core-shell nanofibers. The structure, functional, morphological, magnetic, dielectric, leakage current, and ferroelectric properties were also analyzed. X-ray diffraction studies revealed the hexagonal crystal structure of the core and the tetragonal structure of the shell. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis showed the fundamental functional groups present in the nanofibers. Scanning electron microscopy studies showed that the diameter of the nanofibers was 404 nm, and elemental analysis by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy showed the stoichiometric formation of Ba2Ni2Fe12O22 and Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3 in the composite. Microstructure studies using a transmission electron microscope revealed the formation of core-shell nanofibers with a clear interface between the magnetic Ba2Ni2Fe12O22 (BNFO) core and the ferroelectric Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3 (PZT) shell. Selected-area electron diffraction analysis showed the Ba2Ni2Fe12O22 and Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3 phases to be highly crystalline. At room temperature, the synthesized nanofibers exhibited well-defined ferroelectric and magnetic hysteresis loops. Dielectric and leakage current studies were performed. Direct magnetoelectric and magnetodielectric studies were also performed to study the cross-coupling between the ferroic orders of the nanofiber. Moreover, using Landau’s energy expression, the type of magnetoelectric coupling was proved to be biquadratic. The enhanced magnetoelectric behavior of the Ba2Ni2Fe12O22–Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3 core–shell nanofiber confirms that the nanofiber is a potential candidate for high-performing magnetic field sensors, magnetically tuned capacitors, multimedia transducers, and spintronic devices.