Effect of Ni and FeCoV films on magnetoelectricity of piezoelectric Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3–PbTiO3 sandwich structures

Abstract

To improve the magnetoelectric (ME) property of piezoelectric thin film systems, Ni and FeCoV magnetic films are respectively used to sandwich piezoelectric foil Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3–PbTiO3 (PMN–PT) in the middle. The ME voltages and coefficients have been characterized in the longitudinally magnetized and transversely polarized mode. The measurement was conducted under a static magnetic field superimposed with an alternating magnetic field. The influences of the static and the alternating field strength are discussed. The peak ME coefficient obtained in the FeCoV film-sandwiched structure reached 27.4×10−3mV/cm•A/m, which is about five times greater than the Ni film-sandwiched counterpart. A linear relationship is observed between the magnetoelectric voltage and the alternating field strength under a static field of 31.8kA/m for both structures. As FeCoV is also oxidation-resistant and low in cost, the FeCoV film-sandwiched structure (i.e., FeCoV/PMN–PT/FeCoV) makes a good candidate in miniature ME device applications.