Magnetic Glassy Behavior of Pr_0.6Ca_0.4MnO₃ Nanoparticles: Effect of Intra and Interparticle Magnetic Interactions on Magnetodielectric Property

Studies of the dc and ac magnetization on Pr_0.6Ca_0.4MnO₃ (PCMO) nanoparticles indicate the metastable magnetic behavior with random ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic interactions that led to spin glass (SG) behavior below 90 K. Magnetodielectric (MD) effect has been investigated by dispersing the SG PCMO nanoparticles in a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) matrix. It is found that for low volume fraction of PCMO the MD varies as <i>M</i>², which indicates the intrinsic magnetoelectric (ME) coupling in PCMO nanoparticles. For higher volume fractions (above the percolation threshold) MD goes with the <i>M</i>⁴. The magnetization along with microstructural investigations suggested the significant role of inter/intraclusters magnetic interactions on MD property