Ferroelectric, magnetic and microstructural studies on CoFe₂O₄:BaTiO₃ core–shell magnetoelectric nanocomposites using microscopy

Abstract

In this work, we have studied the microscopic, ferroelectric, magnetic and microstructural characteristics of cobalt ferrite/barium titanate core–shell magnetoelectric nanocomposites. Magnetoelectric nanocomposites with 22 nm mean particle size were successfully obtained and observed by High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy and Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy. Ferroelectric and magnetic properties were studied and confirmed by Scanning Probe Microscopy. Ferroelectric nanoregions were observed at the nanocomposites shell and magnetic nanoregions were highlighted in the nanocomposites core. Thus, magnetoelectric nanocomposites suitable for use in multifunctional biological/biomedical/bioengineering applications, as magnetic field nanosensors and other multifunctional applications were obtained.

KEYWORDS:

• Magnetoelectric
• nanocomposites
• cobalt ferrite
• barium titanate
• microscopy

Additional information

Funding

The authors would like to thank the Brazilian funding agencies CAPES (proc. 174363 Procad 071/2013 and Procad 88881.068509/2014-01) and CNPq (procs. 445837/2014-4, 301991/2015-4, 200977/2015-6, 309830/2017-6, 446565/2014-8, and 429687/2016-8) for financial support. DA thanks CAPES for the fellowship the NSF/INAMM program at UTSA under the PDSE program for hosting him. Authors also thank COMCAP/UEM for the microscopy measurements. Funding was also provided by Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo.