Magnetoelectric coupling in terfenol-D/polyvinylidenedifluoride composites

The elastic coupling in the ferromagnetic/ferroelectric composite Terfenol-D/polyvinylidenefluoride (PVDF) leads to a magnetic field induced magnetoelectric (ME) effect: an applied magnetic field creates a piezomagnetic strain in the Terfenol-D that in turn induces a piezoelectric charge or voltage in the PVDF. This letter reports a MEH coefficient of 1.43 V/(cm Oe) in agreement with an analytical calculation based on the properties of the components. The ME coupling coefficient of this composite is 11%. (C) 2002 American Institute of Physics.