Converse magnetoelectric effect in laminated composites of PMN–PT single crystal and Terfenol-D alloy

Abstract

We have found experimentally and theoretically that laminated composites comprising one layer of length-magnetized Tb0.3Dy0.7Fe1.92 (Terfenol-D) magnetostrictive alloy sandwiched between two layers of thickness-polarized, electro-parallel-connected 0.7Pb(Mg1∕3Nb2∕3)O3–0.3PbTiO3 (PMN–PT) piezoelectric single crystal have a large converse magnetoelectric effect characterized by a large magnetic induction in response to an applied ac voltage. The reported converse magnetoelectric effect originates from the product of the converse piezoelectric effect in the PMN–PT layers and the converse magnetostrictive effect in the Terfenol-D layer. Large converse magnetoelectric coefficient in excess of 105mG∕V is obtained in the composites at a low magnetic bias field of 170Oe. The measured magnetic induction has an excellent linear relationship to the applied ac voltage with amplitude varying from 50to160V. These made the composites to be a promising material for direct realization of core-free magnetic flux control devices.