Magnetic field-induced ferroelectric domain structure evolution and magnetoelectric coupling for [110]-oriented PMN-PT/Terfenol-D multiferroic composites

Magnetic field-induced polarization rotation and magnetoelectric coupling effects are studied for [110]-oriented (1-x)Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-xPbTiO3/Tb0.3Dy0.7Fe2(PMN-xPT/Terfenol-D) multiferroic composites. Two compositions of the [110]-oriented relaxor ferroelectric single crystals, PMN-28PT and PMN-33PT, are used. In [110]-oriented PMN-28PT, domains of rhombohedral (R) and monoclinic (MB) phases coexist prior to the magnetic loadings. Upon the applied magnetic loadings, phase transition from monoclinic MB to R phase occurs. In [110]-oriented PMN-33PT, domains are initially of mixed orthorhombic (O) and MB phases, and the phase transition from O to MB phase takes place upon the external magnetic loading. Compared to PMN-28PT, the PMN-33PT single crystal exhibits much finer domain boundary structure prior to the magnetic loadings. Upon the magnetic loadings, more domain variants are induced via the phase transition in PMN-33PT than that in PMN-28PT single crystal. The finer domain band structure and more domain variants contribute to stronger piezoelectric activity. As a result, the composite of PMN-33PT/Terfenol-D manifests a stronger ME coupling than PMN-28PT/Terfenol-D composite.