Yttrium Iron Garnet/Barium Titanate Multiferroic Composites

Dense multiferroic 0-3 type composites encompassing BaTiO3 and Y3Fe5O12 were fabricated by the solid state reaction method. X-ray diffraction data combined with Scanning Electron Microscopy imaging show virtual immiscibility between the two phases, with the Y3Fe5O12 ferrimagnetic phase well dispersed in the tetragonal BaTiO3 ferroelectric matrix. Raman spectroscopy analyses corroborate the polar nature of the BaTiO3 matrix in composites with a Y3Fe5O12 content as great as 40 wt%. Ferrimagnetism is detected in all composites and no additional magnetic phases are distinguished. Although these dense ceramics can be electrically poled, they exhibit a very weak magnetoelectric response, which slightly increases with Y3Fe5O12 content.