Synthesis and Characterization of multiferroic BiFeO3-CoFe2O4 (BFO-CFO) composite thin films

Abstract

In the present work, multiferroic (1-x) BiFeO3–x (CoFe2O4) (x = 0, 0.1) Nano composite thin films were prepared by sol-gel spin coating process. Effect of volume ratio of CFO on the structural, electrical and magnetic properties of BFO/CFO composite thin film has been studied. X-ray diffraction study confirmed the co-existence of both perovskite BiFeO3 (BFO) and spinel CoFe2O4 (CFO) phase. Atomic force microscopy shows a CFO particles distributed in BFO matrix. These composite thin films exhibit both ferroelectric and ferromagnetic properties at room temperature. The magnetic properties are improved by incorporation of CFO in BFO matrix. The saturation magnetization (Ms) increases with increasing x. For x = 0.1, Ms is found as high as ~ 40.12 emu/cm3. Coercivity is increased with CFO concentration and found maximum (Hc ~ 127 Oe) for x = 0.10. Composite film shows ferroelectric behavior, however the ferroelectric properties are found to decrease with incorporation of magnetic phase.