Synthesis and characterization of multiferroic Pb(Zr,Ti)O 3/CoFe2O4/Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 layered composite thin films by chemical solution deposition

Abstract

Multiferroic Pb(Zr,Ti)O3/CoFe2O4/Pb(Zr,Ti) O3 layered thin films were synthesized on Pt/TiOx/SiO 2/Si substrates by chemical solution deposition using metalorganic precursor solutions. Layered composite films composed of polycrystalline perovskite Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3 and spinel CoFe2O4 phases with no secondary phases were successfully synthesized by controlling conditions such as the coating process. The layered structure of the Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3/CoFe2O 4/Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3 was confirmed by scanning electron microscope observations. These layered films exhibited sufficiently high insulating properties, as well as ferroelectric polarization (P)-electric field (E) and ferromagnetic magnetization (M)-magnetic field (H) hysteresis loops at room temperature. Typical ferroelectric oxide strain behavior was observed under a driving AC (alternate current) field. Furthermore, due to magnetoelectric interaction between the ferroelectric and ferromagnetic (magnetostrictive) layers, the ferroelectric properties of the films altered under an applied magnetic field (approximately 0.5 T). © 2013 The Ceramic Society of Japan.