Dependence of giant magnetoelectric effect on interfacial bonding for multiferroic laminated composites of rare-earth-iron alloys and lead-zirconate-titanate

The giant magnetoelectric effect of laminated composites of rare-earth-iron alloys (Terfenol-D) and lead-zirconate-titanate (PZT) is calculated by using the finite element method. Our simulations show that the magnetoelectric response of the laminated Terfenol-D/PZT composites is strongly dependent on interfacial bonding between Terfenol-D and PZT layers. The giant magnetoelectric effect and its dependence on the interfacial bonding predicted by the finite element method for the composites are in good agreement with predictions by a recent analytical method and recent experimental observations available. (C) 2004 American Institute of Physics.