Magnetoelectric effects in shear-mode magnetostrictive/piezoelectric composite with a Z-type structure

A shear-mode trilayer magnetoelectric (ME) laminate heterostructure comprising giant magnetostrictive materials (GMMs) and a piezoelectric plate has been prepared in this study. Based on theoretical calculations, the piezoelectric plate with a Z-type structure is subjected to more stress from the magnetostrictive material, which indicates that the stress transfer capacity of the Z-type structure is higher than that of the traditional S-type structure. Experimental research demonstrated that the magnetoelectric coupling coefficient of the Z-type structure is 1.5 times higher than that of the S-type structure. Its ME coupling coefficient alpha(M)(E) exceeded 77.63 my/(cm . Oe), frequency response range was 8 times that of the S-type structure, and vibration displacement was similar to 2.2 times that of the S-type structure. Finite element simulations have also been performed to calculate the voltage distribution of the shear-mode trilayer ME laminate heterostructure. Since such broadband ME structures are capable of magnetic field detection, this research elucidates the applicability of ME laminate heterostructures for transducing, sensing, and energy harvesting.