Modulated magneto-dielectric property and exchange bias effect of BiFeO 3 incorporated in (BiFeO 3 ) 0.50 (Li 0.30 Zn 0.35 Fe 2.35 O 4 ) 0.50 nanocomposite

Abstract Nanoparticles of BiFeO 3 (BFO) are prepared by the sol–gel method. These prepared nanoparticles are incorporated in the nanocomposite of (BiFeO 3 ) 0.50 (Li 0.30 Zn 0.35 Fe 2.35 O 4 ) 0.50 (BFO-LZFO). The formation of pure crystallographic phase of each component (BFO and LZFO) in the nanocomposite of BFO-LZFO has been confirmed by Rietveld analysis of the X-ray diffractograms using FULLPROF program. Morphology, average particle size and its distribution, crystallographic phase etc. are determined from the high-resolution transmission electron microscopy of BFO-LZFO. Magnetic property of BFO is drastically enhanced in the nanocomposite. An exchange bias effect is also observed in the field cooled and zero field cooled hysteresis loops, which suggest that antiferromagnetic nanoparticles of BFO are encapsulated by ferrimagnetic nanoparticles of LZFO in BFO-LZFO. Magneto-capacitance (MC) co-efficient has been estimated from the values of dielectric constants, measured in presence and absence of magnetic field. Results of magnetic, dielectric and MC co-efficient indicate a strong modulation of magneto-dielectric property of BFO in BFO-LZFO and this would be quite interesting for applications of BFO, a lead free multiferroic.