ABSTRACT

This chapter reviews magnetoelectric (ME) interaction in magnetically ordered materials. We discuss the ME properties of magnetostrictive-piezoelectric composites to create new ME composites with enhanced ME couplings that would enable them for application in functional electronics devices. One of the main objectives is a comparative analysis of ME composites that have different connectivity types. It was significant to note that the relative simplicity of manufacturing multilayer composites with a 2-2 type connectivity having giant ME responses is an important benefit. In addition, composites with 3-0 and 0-3 connectivity types are also easy to make using a minimum monitoring of the synthesis process. The ultimate purpose of theoretical estimates is to predict the ME parameters — both susceptibility and voltage coefficients

— as these are the most basic parameters of magnetoelectricity. The ME effects occur over a broad frequency bandwidth, extending from the quasi-static to millimeter ranges. This offers important opportunities in potential device applications.