Abstract
In the present work, cobalt ferrite and Zn-doped cobalt ferrite nanoparticles were synthesized using a low temperature solution method. A study of the magnetic properties of the CoFe2O4 nanoparticles shows high coercivity at 10 K. Co0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 nanoparticles show a lower coercive field but a higher saturation magnetization as compared to CoFe2O4 nanoparticles. Blocking temperature of the particles decreased from 355 K for CoFe2O4 to 220 K for Co0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4. A PbZr0.52Ti0.48O3:CoFe2O4 composite film prepared using CoFe2O4 nanoparticles dispersed in PbZr0.52Ti0.48O3 solution shows ferroelectric and ferromagnetic properties. Such low-cost synthesis approach shows promise for use in magnetoelectric composite films.
Acknowledgments
Authors would like to thank the University of Connecticut. The author MJ is grateful to the financial support from UConn startup funds and National Science Foundation grant (NSF #1105975).