Magnetoelectric coupling characteristics in multiferroic heterostructures with different thickness of nanocrystalline soft magnetic alloy

Lei Chen,Yao Wang

doi:10.1063/1.4942956

Abstract

Magnetoelectric(ME) coupling characteristics in multiferroic heterostructures with different thickness of nanocrystalline soft magnetic alloy has been investigated at low frequency. The ME response with obvious hysteresis, self-biased and dual-peak phenomenon is observed for multiferroic heterostructures, which results from strong magnetic interactions between two ferromagnetic materials with different magnetic properties, magnetostrictions and optimum bias magnetic fields Hdc,opti. The proposed multiferroic heterostructures not only enhance ME coupling significantly, but also broaden dc magnetic bias operating range and overcomes the limitations of narrow bias range. By optimizing the thickness of nanocrystalline soft magnetic alloy Tf, a significantly zero-biased ME voltage coefficient(MEVC) of 14.8mV/Oe (185 mV/cm⋅ Oe) at Tf = 0.09 mm can be obtained, which is about 10.8 times as large as that of traditional PZT/Terfenol-D composite with a weak ME coupling at zero bias Hdc,zero. Furthermore, when Tf increases from 0.03 mm to 0.18 mm, the maximum MEVC increases nearly linearly with the increased Tf at Hdc,opti. Additionally, the experimental results demonstrate the ME response for multiferroic heterostructures spreads over a wide magnetic dc bias operating range. The excellent ME performance provides a promising and practicable application for both highly sensitive magnetic field sensors without bias and ME energy harvesters.

Highlights

INTRODUCTIONRange by designing some specific configurations is very crucial for the realistic application of ME composite
The ME response with obvious hysteresis, self-biased and dual-peak phenomenon is observed for multiferroic heterostructures, which results from strong magnetic interactions between two ferromagnetic materials with different magnetic properties, magnetostrictions and optimum bias magnetic fields Hdc,opti
By optimizing the thickness of nanocrystalline soft magnetic alloy Tf, a significantly zero-biased ME voltage coefficient(MEVC) of 14.8mV/Oe (185 mV/cm·Oe) at Tf = 0.09 mm can be obtained, which is about 10.8 times as large as that of traditional PZT/Terfenol-D composite with a weak ME coupling at zero bias Hdc,zero

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Range by designing some specific configurations is very crucial for the realistic application of ME composite. The different magnetostrictions and optimum bias magnetic fields between nanocrystalline soft magnetic alloy and giant magnetostrictive material result in the dual-peak ME effect. Compared to the traditional Terfenol-D/PZT composites, different ME responses can be observed for the proposed multiferroic heterostructure as follows: (i) Two significant peaks of ME effects can be obtained, avoiding the traditional single-peak behavior for ME effect only limited in the narrow operating range around the optimum bias Hdc,opti. (iii) The maximum MEVC at the low frequency increases nearly linearly with the increasing thicknesses of FeCuNbSiB layer until 0.18 mm

EXPERIMENTAL

AND DISCUSSION

CONCLUSION