Self-biased magnetoelectric response in three-phase laminates

This study reports the experimental observation and analysis of self-biased magnetoelectric (ME) effect in three-phase laminates. The 2-2 L-T mode laminates were fabricated by attaching nickel (Ni) plates and ME particulate composite plates having 3-0 connectivity with 0.948Na(0.5)K(0.5)NbO(3)-0.052LiSbO(3) (NKNLS) matrix and Ni0.8Zn0.2Fe2O4 (NZF) dispersant. The presence of two types of ferromagnetic materials, Ni and NZF, results in built-in magnetic bias due to difference in their magnetic susceptibilities and coercivity. This built-in bias (H-bias) provides finite ME effect at zero applied magnetic dc field. The ME response of bending mode trilayer laminate NKNLS-NZF/Ni/NKNLS-NZF in off-resonance and on-resonance conditions was shown to be mathematical combination of the trilayers with configuration NKNLS-NZF/Ni/NKNLS-NZF and NKNLS/Ni/NKNLS representing contributions from magnetic interaction and bending strain. (C) 2010 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3493154]