Improvement of the physical properties of novel (1 − y) Co0.8Cu0.2Fe2O4 + (y) SrTiO3 nanocomposite

Magnetoelectric (ME) nanocomposites (1 − y) Co0.8Cu0.2Fe2O4 + (y) SrTiO3 (y = 40, 50, 60, 80 and 100%) were prepared by standard ceramic method. Phase formation was checked using X-ray diffraction analysis. Both saturation magnetization (Ms) and Curie temperature (TC) decrease with increasing SrTiO3 content. Temperature dependence of the dielectric constant reveals two maxima, one about 550 K corresponds to non-stoichiometry and lattice distortions while the second around 900 K corresponds to the Curie temperature (TC). The large value of ME output is due to the strain induced by lattice distortion in the ferrite phase by Jahn–Teller ions like Cu. Hence, Jahn–Teller effect in the ferrite leads to polarization in the piezoelectric phase.