Abstract
This chapter provides an overview of the magnetoelectric (ME) effect, key figures of merit, materials selection, applicability in energy harvesters and design considerations. ME composites based on combinations of magnetostrictive and piezoelectric materials are well suited for the conversion of magnetic energy into electrical energy through a two-step process. Magnetic energy is first converted into mechanical energy via magnetostriction in the magnetic part of the ME composite, and then themechanical energy is converted into electrical energy via the piezoelectric component of the ME composite. In order to understand the ME effect in composite systems, the chapter offers insights into the individual components of the systems and how materials selection plays an important role in the development of efficient ME energy harvesters. There are several ME energy-harvesting devices based on commonly used ferromagnetic materials and piezo-ceramics, such as Terfenol-D and PZT, Terfenol-D and Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-PbTiO3 (PMNT), Ni-Mn-Ga and PZT, and Ni plate-single-crystal fiber composite (SFC).
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