CHARACTERIZATION OF POLYMER BASED FLEXIBLE MAGNETIC COMPOSITES

Abstract

Multiferroics are materials that contain two or more ferroic order parameters. Discovery of these materials lead to the possibility of fabrication of novel devices as their electronic polarization can be governed by applying magnetic fields, vice versa. Oxide based ferromagnetic materials are more likely to demonstrate multiferroic properties due their high polarizability. Polymer based multiferroic composites are a relatively less studied class of materials despite their promising properties. In this study, polymeric multiferroic composite samples were obtained by mixing cobalt ferrite (CFO) and graphite powders, and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) at varying compositions. Flexible magnetic and conductive films were formed after curing the PDMS polymer. Magnetic properties of the samples were characterized with vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) measurements. Magnetic behavior switched from diamagnetic to ferromagnetic with the increased concentration of CFO powder as expected. The switching behavior of the magnetoresistance measurements were in good agreement with the VSM hysteresis loops. Additional characterization included FTIR and Raman spectroscopy, which were used to verify the composition of the materials present in the composite samples