We have developed a processing technique for producing cobalt ferrite (CFO)/lead lanthanum zirconate titanate (PLZT) 0-3 composites with enhanced piezoelectric, ferroelectric and magnetoelectrical (ME) coupling properties. It includes modifying the phase boundary with zirconia barrier layer and decreasing the sintering temperature with Li2O + 0.5Bi(2)O(3) additives. The CFO/PLZT 0-3 composites were successfully fabricated via conventional co-firing procedures. The obtained 0-3 composite ceramics can withstand a DC electric field of 6 kV mm(-1). The effects of CFO/PLZT ratio on the crystalline structure, piezoelectric, ferroelectric, dielectric and M E properties were investigated. The M E coefficients of the composites with CFO:PLZT volume ratio of 14.4:85.6,27.4:72.6 and 39.3:60.7 were found to be 31, 52 and 143 mV (Oe cm)(-1) at 100 kHz under a bias field of similar to 1 kOe. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.