Dual-peak self-biased magnetoelectric couplings in symmetrical multiferroic heterostructures

In this study, the results of an investigation of dual-peak resonance ME couplings at zero magnetic bias in a symmetric ME heterostructure consisting of two distinct ferromagnetic layers Terfenol-D and SmFe2 plates placed between piezoelectric plate PZT-5H is presented, and the magnetostrictive layers with positive and negative magnetostrictions. A negative shear force as well as large internal anisotropic field is provided by SmFe₂ plate due to its ferromagnetic and magnetostrictive properties, and the Terfenol-D plate provides a positive shear force to provoke a higher shear-stress transfer. In this architecture the SmFe₂ plate plays two key roles: (i) it serves as piezomagnetic phase providing a negative shear force; (ii) it can provide an internal field to bias the ME composite due to its ferromagnetism with obvious hysteresis and large remnant magnetostriction oriented the direction [111] of easy-magnetization axis.