1. National Science Foundation Nanocomposite Magnetoelectric Films Menka Jain, University of Connecticut, DMR 1105975 Outcome: Dr. Jain and group at UConn have prepared nanoparticles (NPs) of ferrite materials using solution method and fabricated thin film magnetoelectric composites comprising of magnetostrictive (ferrite) and piezoelectric PbZr 0.52 Ti 0.48 O 3 (PZT) materials. Impact: These magnetoelectric composites have potential in device applications, such as in microwave devices, sensors, transducers, and heterogeneous read/write devices. Phase pure CoFe 2 O 4 (CFO) and related nanoparticles of 5- 10 nm size were synthesized using solution route. The magnetic measurements of the uncoated NPs and oleic acid coated NPs shows a difference in the blocking temperature (marked by arrow), which clearly indicates that the NPs do not agglomerate when coated. 50 Oe The CFO nanoparticles exhibit a coercive field of ~11400 Oe at 10 K.

2. National Science Foundation Nanocomposite Magnetoelectric Films Menka Jain, University of Connecticut, DMR 1105975 The atomic force microscopy image from the surface of the PZT-ferrite magnetoelectric composite film shows the NPs dispersed in the film. (a) The magnetization hysteresis loops at 10K and (b) ferroelectric hysteresis loops at 300K, respectively, for the PbZr 0.52 Ti 0.48 O 3 :CoFe 2 O 4 composite film shows the composite films shows good ferroelectric and magnetic properties. The atomic force microscopy image of Ba 0.5 Sr 0.5 TiO 3 nano-islands deposited on (001) SrTiO 3 substrate by sol-gel and spin-coating techniques.

3. National Science Foundation Nanocomposite Magnetoelectric Films Menka Jain, University of Connecticut, DMR 1105975 Margo Staruch, a PhD candidate, is currently being funded by the program. She will present her research work in MRS Fall 2011 meeting. New PhD candidate, Adric Quankenbush has recently joined the group. The grant is currently being used to fund undergraduate student Daniel Violette in order to provide him hands-on research experience in the fabrication and characterization of ferrite nanoparticles and ME composite films. The student plans to apply for a Goldwater scholarship based on preliminary results obtained in the research work. Dr. Jain actively participated in the outreach program “Kids are Scientist Too” during summer.