Enhanced magnetoelectric effects in composite of piezoelectric ceramics, rare-earth iron alloys, and ultrasonic horn

A magnetoelectric (ME) composite consisting of a copper ultrasonic horn, a magnetostrictive Terfenol-D (TbxDy1−xFe2) plate, and multiple piezoelectric PZT [Pb(Zr1−xTix)O3] plates has been developed. The ultrasonic horn converges and amplifies the vibrating magnitude and drives PZT plates at wide bandwidth. The composite with multiple PZT plates electrically connected in series/parallel exhibits a 25 times higher ME voltage coefficient than the previous laminate composite of PZT and Terfenol-D plates. 100 times higher ME voltage coefficients can be obtained by using a silicon horn composite with a higher Q value of 104 and more PZT plates of ten electrically connected in series/parallel.