Enhanced magnetoelectric effect in self-stressed multi-push-pull mode Metglas/Pb(Zr,Ti)O-3/Metglas laminates

Two methods to effectively induce self-stress on Metglas/Pb(Zr,Ti)O-3/Metglas laminate are presented: (i) applying a dc magnetic field to the Metglas layers or (ii) applying a dc electric field to the core piezoelectric composites. An optimum self-stress enhances the magnetoelectric (ME) effect in the laminates. With a 20 Oe dc magnetic bias, the value of alpha(ME) for the self-stressed laminate was enhanced to 31.4 V/cm center dot Oe, which was by a factor of 1.24x compared to the laminate without self-stress. Furthermore, the equivalent magnetic noise floor was reduced by the self-stress at low frequencies. (C) 2012 American Institute of Physics. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4737179]