Diblock copolymer based self-assembled nanomagnetoelectric

Abstract

A magnetoelectric (ME) composite with controlled nanostructures is synthesized using coassembly of two inorganic precursors with a block copolymer. This solution processed material consists of hexagonally arranged ferromagnetic cobalt ferrite [CoFe2O4 (CFO)] nano cylinders within a matrix of ferroelectric lead zirconium titanate [Pb1.1(Zr(0.53)Ti(0.47))O3(PZT)] when thin films were prepared by spin coating. The initial magnetic permeability of the self-assembled CFO/PZT nanocomposite changes by a factor of 5 through the application of 2.5V. This work also demonstrates that a block copolymer can be used to simultaneously template two compound inorganic phases to form a nanoscale composite.