Low frequency and Microwave Magnetoelectric Effects in Thick Film Heterostructures of Lithium Zinc Ferrite and Lead Zirconate Titanate

TL;DR

This study investigates low-frequency and microwave magnetoelectric effects in layered lithium zinc ferrite and PZT heterostructures, revealing enhanced coupling with zinc substitution and validating a bilayer model for ME interactions.

Contribution

It presents a comprehensive analysis of magnetoelectric coupling in thick film heterostructures, introducing a model that explains the effects of zinc substitution on ME interactions at different frequencies.

Findings

Transverse ME voltage coefficient exceeds longitudinal at low frequencies.

Maximum transverse coupling occurs at x=0.3 zinc substitution.

Estimated ME constants align with the bilayer model predictions.

Abstract

Magnetoelectric (ME) coupling at low frequencies and at x-band have been investigated in layered samples containing zinc substituted lithium ferrite and lead zirconate titanate (PZT). Multilayers of Li0.5-x/2ZnxFe2.5-x/2O4 (LZFO) (x=0-0.4) and PZT were prepared by lamination and sintering of thick films. At low frequencies (10-1000 Hz), the ME voltage coefficient for transverse fields is higher than for longitudinal fields. With Zn substitution in the ferrite, transverse coupling increases to a maximum for x=0.3 and then decreases for higher x. Analysis based on our model for a bilayer implies an efficient magneto-mechanical coupling with Zn substitution, resulting in strong ME interactions. Microwave ME coupling is studied through measurements of shift in the ferromagnetic resonance field due to an applied electric field. Estimated ME constants from such data are in agreement with our model for a ferrite-PZT bilayer.