Theoretical analysis of electric, magnetic and magnetoelectric properties of nano-structured multiferroic composites

Electric, magnetic and magnetoelectric properties of the nano-structured multiferroic composites were studied by using an energy formulation with the consideration of the surface, interface, and size effect. Coupled thermodynamic evolution equations with respect to the spontaneous polarization and magnetization were established, in which the elastic fields in the matrix and inclusions were solved based on the Eshelby's equivalent inclusion concept and the Mori-Tanaka method. Physical properties of the composite, such as the spontaneous order parameters, piezoelectric/piezomagnetic properties, and the magnetoelectric coupling effect are highly dependent on the stress state and the microstructures of the nano-composites. Magnetoelectric coupling voltage coefficient was unstable in the vicinity of the critical size and disappeared below the critical size. The model is versatile enough for various composite structures. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.