Evaluation of magnetoelectric coupling in a BaTi O3 -Ni composite ferroic film by impedance spectroscopy

Abstract

A ferroic film of BaTi O3 (BTO) containing 22.7 at. % Ni was fabricated by the radio frequency cosputtering method. It reveals that the Ni spontaneously stays apart from the BTO phase and congregates around the BaTi O3 grains by using a high resolution transmission electron microscopy equipped with an electron dispersive spectroscopy. The impedance characterization for the BTO grains in the Ni-containing film is greatly varied with the application of different magnetic fields, while that of a BTO film remains unaffected. This indicates that a magnetoelectric coupling is induced in the ferroic film through an elastic interaction between the magnetostrictive Ni and the BTO. © 2008 American Institute of Physics.