Three-dimensional phases-connectivity and strong magnetoelectric response of self-assembled feather-like CoFe2O4–BaTiO3 nanostructures

Magnetoelectric (ME) (CoFe2O4)0.3–(BaTiO3)0.7 (CFO–BTO) nanostructures have been synthesized by a combinative using of hydrothermal reaction and polymer-assisted deposition. The feather-like nanostructures have an average diameter of 250 nm and lengths up to 5 μm, with the single-crystal CFO nanopillars embedded in the BTO matrix. The CFO–BTO nanostructures exhibit good ferromagnetic and ferroelectric properties, as well as a large ME coefficient of 51.8 mV/cm Oe. A model has been proposed to explain the three-dimensional phases-connectivity of the nanostructures. And it is suggested that the novel type of phases-connectivity greatly promote the ME response.