Giant magnetoelectric effect at low frequencies in polymer-based thin film composites

A polymer-based magnetoelectric 2-2 composite was fabricated in a thin film approach by direct spin coating of polyvinylidenefluoride-co-trifluoroethylene onto a Metglas substrate without the usage of an adhesive for the mechanical coupling between the piezoelectric and magnetostrictive materials. For a prototype single-sided clamped cantilever, a magnetoelectric coefficient as high as 850 V cm−1 Oe−1 is observed at its fundamental bending mode resonance frequency at 27.8 Hz and a detection limit of 10 pTHz−1/2 at its second bending mode resonance frequency at 169.5 Hz.