15-Mode piezoelectric composite and its application in a magnetoelectric laminate structure

Magnetoelectric composites have recently been attracting attention owing to their possible application in various advanced electronics. The piezoelectric material used in a magnetoelectric composite is an important determinant of the electrical performance of the device. In this study, we report on the fundamental characteristics and magnetoelectric application of a 15-mode piezoelectric composite. The centimeter-scale 15-mode piezoelectric composite implemented by a novel fabrication process exhibits successful 15-mode operation along with excellent piezoelectric properties d15 = 793 × 10−12 C N−1, g15 = 32 × 10−3 V m N−1, k15 = 0.62, and d15·g15 = 25376 × 10−15 m2 N−1. Magnetostrictive-piezoelectric laminate structures designed to generate shear stress were fabricated using the 15-mode piezoelectric composites, and their magnetoelectric characteristics were investigated systematically. A giant magnetoelectric voltage coefficient of 18.4 V cm−1 Oe−1 was obtained at a low frequency of 660 Hz from the laminate, indicating the potential of the 15-mode piezoelectric composite for application in high-performance magnetoelectric devices.