Additional dc magnetic field response of magnetostrictive/piezoelectric magnetoelectric Laminates by Lorentz force effect

We have discovered that traditional long-type magnetoelectric laminate composite of magnetostrictive Tb1-xDyxFe2-y and piezoelectric materials possesses additional ability of detecting dc magnetic field, using the product effect of the Lorentz force effect from Terfenol-D metal strips in dc magnetic field applied with an ac electrical current and the piezoelectric effect from piezoelectric material. The output voltage between the two faces of piezoelectric (1-x)Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O-3-xPbTiO(3) single crystal shows a good linear response to applied dc magnetic field of 100-1200 Oe under different ac electrical current inputs (0.4-200 mA). The magnetoelectric coefficient is about similar to 64.1 mV/T A. The additional dc magnetic field response of magnetostrictive/piezoelectric magnetoelectric laminates driven by Lorentz force makes this composite hopeful for application in coil-free ac/dc magnetic-sensitive sensors. At the same time, for this composite, the additional ability will not affect the primal ability for detecting ac magnetic field. (c) 2006 American Institute of Physics.