Sensitive angle-dependent magnetoelectric coupling in cluster-assembled flexible composites

Abstract

Flexible magnetoelectric (ME) device is one of the indispensable elements. However, the complicated fabrication process and low sensitivity hinder the practical applications. Here, flexible NiFe anisotropic magnetoelastic composites were prepared by cluster-supersonic expansion method assistant with polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) substrates. The NiFe/PVDF composites possess sensitive angle-resolution ME coupling coefficient at room temperature, and the value can reach 0.66 μV deg−1. The strong anisotropic magnetoelasticity phenomenon is reminiscent of the short-range ordered cluster structure. The anisotropic magnetoelastic coefficient can be deduced by temperature- and magnetic field strength-dependent anisotropic magnetoresistance. The magnetic torque results also prove the strong anisotropic magnetoelastic trait. The coupling between piezoelectricity and anisotropic magnetostrictive effect endows great possibilities toward flexible electronic compass. These results shed light on future in non-invasive tracking of vital biological health via wearable electronic devices.