Handling magnetic anisotropy and magnetoimpedance effect in flexible multilayers under external stress

•We investigate the magnetoimpedance effect in magnetostrictive flexible multilayers grown on flexible substrates.•The external applied stress enables to tuning the samples anisotropies, and consequently the MI performance.•The flexible substrate becomes promising candidate for RF-frequency devices.

We investigate the dynamic magnetic response though magnetoimpedance effect of ferromagnetic flexible NiFe/Ta and FeCuNbSiB/Ta multilayers under external stress. We explore the possibility of handling magnetic anisotropy, and consequently the magnetoimpedance effect, of magnetostrictive multilayers deposited onto flexible substrates. We quantify the sensitivity of the multilayers under external stress by calculating the ratio between impedance variations and external stress changes, and show that considerable values can be reached by tuning the magnetic field, frequency, magnetostriction constant, and external stress. The results extend possibilities of application of magnetostrictive multilayers deposited onto flexible substrates when under external stress and place them as very attractive candidates as element sensor for the development of sensitive smart touch sensors.