Design magneto‐dielectric elastomer composites for flexible electric/magnetic field response multi‐mode sensors

Abstract With the increasing complexity of flexible sensor application scenarios, in order to achieve their use in electric and magnetic fields, this paper introduces a core‐shell structure with Ni‐doped cobalt ferrites as the magnetic core and barium titanate as the dielectric layer, filling it into a polymer matrix to prepare flexible magneto‐dielectric elastomer composites. Taking advantages of this design, the targets including the establishment of multi‐functionalization and the retention of fine mechanical properties have been simultaneously achieved. The synthesized elastomer composites exhibit fine flexibility and excellent magneto‐electric response. An optimum magnetic‐induced deformation angle achieves to 55° under an external magnetic field of 8000 Oe, and a maximum electric‐induced deformation approaches to about 8.29% under an applied electric field of 5 kV/mm. Besides that, with Ni‐doping, the magnetization behaviors of composite fillings could be tuned, resulting a controllable magnetic field response of the synthesized magneto‐dielectric rubber composites. This work provides a novel way to design multi‐functionalized flexible composites, which is significant for exploring multi‐mode flexible sensors. Highlights Magneto‐dielectric elastomers were prepared with using core‐shell filling. The elastomer composites exhibit fine magnetic and electric field response. The composites maintained good flexible mechanical properties.