Enhanced magnetoelectric properties in three-phase composites with 2-1-2 connectivity

Abstract

An investigation is reported on a 2-1-2 magnetoelectric (ME) laminate composite having Metglas/PZNT/Metglas configuration with ferrite pillars embedded in the PZNT phase. The piezoelectric layer with composition 0.2Pb(Zn_1/3Nb_2/3)O₃–0.8Pb(Zr_0.5Ti_0.5)O₃ (PZNT) consisted of co-fired (Ni_0.6Cu_0.2Zn_0.2)Fe₂O₃ (NCZF) pillars. The top and bottom Metglas layers in the sandwich structure had a thickness of 100 µm, whereas the middle piezoelectric layer had thickness of 800 µm. This 2-1-2 composite was found to exhibit a ME coefficient of the order of 352 mV/cm Oe. Interestingly, the performance of the 2-1-2 composite is 15% higher than that of conventional 2-2 laminate composite.

Keywords:

• magnetoelectric laminate
• composite
• piezoelectric layer

Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by Army Research Office, USA (47576MS), and Office of Basic Energy Science, Department of Energy, USA (DE-FG02-08ER46484).