Enhancement of magnetoelectric coupling and anisotropy by Galfenol/PZT/Galfenol magnetoelectric sandwich device

Abstract

In this work, we reported the large magnetoelectric coupling coefficient and magnetoelectric coupling anisotropy in Galfenol/PZT/Galfenol 2-2 symmetric magnetoelectric sandwich devices. The directional solidification method was used to produce a Galfenol alloy with <001> orientation, which possesses a significant magnetostriction of 279 ppm and a piezomagnetic coefficient of 14.8 ppm/Oe. A magnetoelectric coupling laminate of Galfenol/PZT/Galfenol was also prepared. The magnetoelectric coupling coefficient can reach 55.0 V/cm Oe at the resonance frequency under a 0.35 Oe AC excitation magnetic field due to the significant magnetostriction and high piezomagnetic coefficient. Furthermore, there was excellent linearity and sensitivity between the magnetoelectric output voltage and the AC excitation magnetic field. Simultaneously, the device displayed in-plane magnetoelectric anisotropy and cosine variation as the magnetic field angle changed. At its resonance frequency, the device produced a maximum power of 1.4 mW. Finally, the device was shown to power 42 LEDs and a temperature/humidity sensor, demonstrating that the device withGalfenol/PZT/Galfenol sandwich structure has potential in magnetic field sensing and energy harvesting applications. • The device presented the in-plane anisotropy of ME coupling and cosine variation with the change of magnetic field angle. • The produced maximum power of the device was successfully demonstrated to power 42 LEDs and temperature/humidity sensors at its resonance frequency.