Wireless energy transfer based on strain-mediated composite multiferroics

Abstract

A subclass of magnetoelectric composite multiferroics can bi-directionally couple AC electric fields with AC magnetic fields using mechanical strain as a mediator. Serendipitously, AC electric fields, AC magnetic fields, and vibrations, are the mediums used in capacitance-, induction-, and acoustic-based wireless energy transfer (WET), respectively. As a result, strain-mediated composite multiferroics are uniquely positioned to transform all these modes of WET. This paper analytically and experimentally reports the ability of composite multiferroic hollow cylinders to wirelessly transfer energy to and from laminated multiferroic plates by the use of AC magnetic flux as an energy carrier. In all, the composite cylinders in conjunction with laminated plates are successfully demonstrated as a novel technology of bi-directional magnetoelectric-based WET. We report a peak extracted power of ∼100 μW, which is enough to wirelessly power a multitude of small electronic devices.