Calculations of giant magnetoelectric effects in ferroic composites of rare-earth-iron alloys and ferroelectric polymers - art. no. 144415

Coupled magnetic-mechanical-electric effects involving linearly and nonline arly coupling interactions in ferroic composites are investigated using a G reen's function technique. We use the theory to suggest a possible giant ma gnetoelectric effect in a ferroelectric poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoret hylene) copolymer filled by giant magnetostrictive rare-earth-iron alloy pa rticles, which is markedly larger than that in the best known magnetoelectr ic materials. The flexible composite is expected to exhibit large magnetost riction. Our results show how to design such flexible polymer-matrix magnet oelectric composites with better performance and may stimulate further inte rest in the areas of coupled multifield effects and magnetoelectric materia ls for practical applications.