Nonlinear magnetoelectric response of a bulk magnetostrictive–piezoelectric composite

Magnetoelectric effect in a bulk composite of nickel ferrite and lead zirconate titanate has been investigated by applying an ac magnetic field with no bias field. The measurements were carried out in the low-frequency region for harmonic magnetic field modulation with amplitude up to 3 kOe. The electric field induced by out-of-plane magnetic field exceeds that induced by in-plane magnetic field by approximately 4 times. Nonlinearity of ferrite magnetostriction of the sample results in a doubling in the frequency and a strong distortion of the ME signals. The magnetically induced voltage can be found by integrating the ordinary ME voltage coefficient over magnetic field.

► We investigated magnetoelectric effect in a bulk composite with no bias field.
► Nonlinear magnetoelectric effect results in a distortion of output signal.
► Magnetically induced voltage equals the integral of magnetoelectric voltage coefficient.