Enhanced magnetoelectric effect in nanostructured magnetostrictive thin film resonant actuator with field induced spin reorientation transition

We report the use of a magnetic instability of the spin reorientation transition type to enhance the magnetoelectric sensitivity in magnetostrictive-piezoelectric structures. We present the theoretical study of a clamped beam resonant actuator composed of a piezoelectric element on a nonpiezo substrate actuated by a magnetostrictive layer. The experiments are made on a polished 150μm thick 18×3mm2 lead zirconate titanate (PZT) plate glued to a 50μm silicon plate and coated with a giant magnetostrictive nanostructured Nx(TbCo25nm∕FeCo5nm) layer. Another set of experiments was done with PZT substrate only. Results agree with analytical theory.