Geometry effects on magnetoelectric performance of layered Ni/PZT composites

Layered magnetoelectric (ME) composite structures of varying geometry consisting of PZT and Ni layers were prepared by electrodeposition. Trilayered plate, bilayered and trilayered cylindrical structures’ ME performance was compared. The ME voltage coefficient increased with Ni layer thickness. Cylindrical composites show better ME performance than the plate structures with the same magnetostrictive-piezoelectric phase thickness ratio under high applied magnetic fields at resonant frequencies. Bilayered cylindrical Ni/PZT structure has the best performance in axial mode under high magnetic field, exhibiting linear ME voltage coefficient dependence on the applied magnetic field, which makes it a promising candidate for magnetic field sensor applications. Cutting the ring along the axial direction drastically decreased its performance.