title: Peculiar Magnetoelectric Coupling in BaTiO₃:Fe₁₁₃ ppm Nanoscopic Segregations.
abstract: We report polycrystalline BaTiO3 with cooperative magnetization behavior associated with the scarce presence of about 113 atomic ppm of Fe ions, clearly displaying magnetoelectric coupling with significant changes in magnetization (up to ΔM/M ≈ 32%) at the ferroelectric transitions. We find that Fe ions are segregated mostly at the interfaces between grain boundaries and an Fe-rich phase, forming a self-composite with high magnetoelectric coupling above room temperature. We compare our results with ab initio calculations and other experimental results found in the literature, proposing mechanisms that could be behind the magnetoelectric coupling within the ferroelectric matrix. These findings open the way for further strategies to optimize interfacial magnetoelectric couplings.
authors.forename: C O
authors.initials: CO
authors.lastname: Amorim
authors.affiliation: IFIMUP-IN, Science Faculty; Porto University , 4169-007 Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Figueiras
authors.affiliation: IFIMUP-IN, Science Faculty; Porto University , 4169-007 Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Amaral
authors.forename: P Mirzadeh
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Vaghefi
authors.affiliation: Chemistry Center, Trás-os-Montes and Alto-Douro University , 5001-801 Vila Real, Portugal.
authors.forename: P B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Tavares
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Correia
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baghizadeh
authors.affiliation: C2TN, Instituto Superior Técnico , Campus Tecnológico e Nuclear, EN10, 2695-066 Bobadela LRS, Portugal.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.affiliation: C2TN, Instituto Superior Técnico , Campus Tecnológico e Nuclear, EN10, 2695-066 Bobadela LRS, Portugal.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rocha
authors.forename: V S
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Amaral
keywords: BaTiO3:Fe; autocomposite; interfaces; magnetism; magnetoelectric; multiferroic; nanoscopic segregations