Using magnetoelectric effect to reveal magnetization behavior of bulk and heavy ferromagnetic materials

Abstract Traditionally, magnetization performance of bulk ferromagnetic materials is evaluated mainly based on Faraday's law of electromagnetic induction, magneto-optical effect, Superconducting Quantum Interference Devices (SQUID, only for small specimen), etc. Here, we report that the magnetoelectric (ME) coupling effect from a composited Terfenol-D alloy/PMN-PT single crystal under a constant-amplitude AC magnetic field excitation (Hac = 0.25 Oe at 1 kHz) can be used to reveal magnetization behavior of an approaching bulk ferromagnetic material. Investigations show that the magnetostriction λ33,m, piezomagnetic coefficient d33,m, ME voltage (VME) response spectrum of the ME composite have a strong dependence on the external ferromagnetic material. It is further found that the required DC magnetic field for domain switching in Terfenol-D alloy could be notably decreased from hundreds Oe to only 10 Oe once a high-μ permalloy is approached. This work shows that the ME composite has the potential to quickly, qualitatively evaluate the magnetization (M) or permeability (μ) behavior of an approaching bulk and heavy ferromagnetic material or alloy via ME effect.