Magnetoelectric (ME) voltage coefficient of plate layered magnetostrictive-piezoelectric composites was always considered independent of the in-plane size due to the oversimplification in ME theoretical models. Here we report that the ME voltage coefficient depends on the in-plane size owing to shape demagnetization effect on magnetostriction. Both theoretical analysis and experimental results indicate that ME voltage coefficient of layered ME composites changes with the variation in in-plane sizes (length and width). ME coefficient increases with a rise in in-plane sizes, and different aspect ratio also results in different ME coefficients. Proper design of in-plane shape will greatly promote the develop- ment of ME devices.
Current-voltage measurements obtained from lead zirconate titanate/nickel bilayered hollow cylindrical magne-toelectric composite showed that a sinusoidal current applied to the copper coil wrapped around the hollow cylinder circumference induces voltage across the lead zirconate titanate layer thickness. The current-voltage coefficient and the maximum induced voltage in lead zirconate titanate at 1 kHz and resonance (60.1 kHz) frequencies increased linearly with the number of the coil turns and the applied current. The resonance frequency corresponds to the electromechanical resonance frequency. The current-voltage coefficient can be significantly improved by optimizing the magnetoelectric structure geometry and/or increasing the number of coil turns. Hollow cylindrical lead zirconate titanate/nickel struc-tures can be potentially used as current sensors.
