Magnetoelectric magnetic field sensors. (November 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Viehland, Dwight; Wuttig, Manfred; McCord, Jeffrey; Quandt, Eckhard
• Editors: Carman, Greg P.; Sun, Nian
• Is Part Of: MRS bulletin. Volume 43:Number 11(2018:Nov.)
• Page Start: 834
• Page End: 840
• Publication Date: 2018-11
• Subjects: sensor, -- piezoelectric, -- magnetic properties; Materials -- Periodicals; 620.11
• DOI: 10.1557/mrs.2018.261
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0883-7694

Abstract

Abstract: Abstract : Highly sensitive magnetic field sensors using magnetoelectric (ME) bulk and thin-film composites consisting of magnetostrictive and piezoelectric phases are discussed. Examples include PZT (Pb(Zr x Ti1– x )O3 ) fibers and AlN as the piezoelectric component and amorphous magnetostrictive material, respectively, or their multilayers. Additionally, self-organized ME composites are discussed. These ME sensors offer a passive (consuming little to no power) nature, high sensitivities, large effect enhancements at mechanical resonances, and large linear dynamic ranges. At mechanical resonance, limits of detection in the fT/Hz 1/2 range can be achieved. Below the mechanical resonance frequency, the sensitivity can be enhanced through frequency conversion using alternating current magnetic or electric fields or by using magnetic field-induced changes of the elastic properties, the delta-E effect, where E represents Young's modulus. Noise floors of about 1–100 pT/Hz 1/2 at a frequency of f = 1 Hz can be obtained depending on the sensor size and the operational mode. For applications in unshielded environments, approaches to suppress acoustic and vibrational cross-sensitivities are presented.