Micro and nanoscale magnetoelectric multiferroic lead iron tantalate-lead zirconate titanate

Preparation and Properties of the Ceramic (PbZr0.53Ti0.47O3)(1-x)—(PbFe0.5Ta0.5O3)x (0.1≦x≦0.9) by Solid State Route

Materials and Methods

[0039]Magnetoelectric multiferroic (PbZr0.53Ti0.47O3)(1-x)—(PbFe0.5Ta0.5O3)x (0.1≦x≦0.9) ceramic samples were prepared by a solid-state route. Analytical-purity oxides, PbO (99.5%), ZrO2 (99.86%), TiO2 (99.96%), Fe2O3 (99.99%) and Ta2O5 (97%) (Alfa Aesar) were used as raw materials. The powder of the respective metal oxides were mixed in planetary high energy ball mill with tungsten carbide media at a ball-to-powder weigh ratio of 1:3, at a speed of 600 rpm for a period of 16 h, and then it was calcined at 1123 K for 10 h in a closed alumina crucible. 10% excess of PbO was added to each composition to compensate Pb deficiency during the high temperature processing. Poly (vinyl alcohol) solutions (1%) were added to the calcined powders as a binder. The dried powders were granulated by passing them through a 150 μm-mesh sieve and pressed using a hydrost

Preparation and Properties of (PbZr0.53Ti0.47O3)(1-x)—(PbFe0.5Ta0.5O3)x Thin Films by Pulsed Laser Deposition

Materials and Methods

[0057]Ceramic targets of (PbZr0.53Ti0.47O3)(1-x)—(PbFe0.5Ta0.5O3)x (0.1≦x≦0.9) with 10% excess of lead oxide (to compensate the loss of Pb due its volatility) were synthesized by a conventional solid-state route. Four different compositions of PZTFT (0.1≦x≦0.4) films were fabricated on conducting (bottom electrode for all electrical measurements) La0.67Sr0.33CoO (LSCO) coated (100) MgO substrate by pulsed laser deposition technique using a excimer laser (KrF, λ=248 nm). The conducting LSCO layer was grown on MgO substrate at 873 K under an oxygen pressure of 300 mT, using a laser energy density of 1.8 J / cm2 and repetition rate of 10 Hz, followed by normal cooling in oxygen atmosphere (300 Torr). The PZTFT layer was then deposited on the LSCO layer at 873 K under an oxygen pressure of 200 mTorr, using a laser energy density of (1.5 J / cm2) and repetition r