Novel hybrid multifunctional magnetoelectric porous composite films

• Novel multifunctional membranes have been developed.
• The membranes are based on CoFe2O4 nanoparticles and P(VDF-TrFE).
• The membranes show magnetic, piezoelectric and magnetoelectric response.
• This multifunctional membrane allows sensor and actuator functionalities.

Novel multifunctional porous films have been developed by the integration of magnetic CoFe2O4 (CFO) nanoparticles into poly(vinylidene fluoride)-Trifuoroethylene (P(VDF-TrFE)), taking advantage of the synergies of the magnetostrictive filler and the piezoelectric polymer. The porous films show a piezoelectric response with an effective d33 coefficient of −22 pC/N−1, a maximum magnetization of 12 emu g−1 and a maximum magnetoelectric coefficient of 9 mV cm−1 Oe−1. In this way, a multifunctional membrane has been developed suitable for advanced applications ranging from biomedical to water treatment.