Magnetoelectric performance of cylindrical Ni–lead zirconate titanate–Ni laminated composite synthesized by electroless deposition

The cylindrical Ni–lead zirconate titanate (PZT)–Ni laminated composites with various magnetostrictive–piezoelectric phase thickness ratios were synthesized by electroless deposition. The influences of the bias magnetic field (H _dc) and the ac magnetic field frequency (f) on magnetoelectric (ME) effect are discussed. It is seen that the ME voltage coefficient depends strongly on H _dc and f. The ME voltage coefficient and electromechanical resonance frequency increase as the magnetostrictive–piezoelectric phase thickness ratio increases. The calculated resonant frequency increases with the magnetostrictive–piezoelectric phase thickness ratio, which agrees well with the experimental results. The maximum ME voltage coefficient of the cylindrical Ni–PZT–Ni laminated composite is 3.256 V cm⁻¹ Oe⁻¹, which is much higher than that of the plate laminated composite with the same magnetostrictive–piezoelectric phase thickness ratio. Electroless deposition is an efficient method to prepare ME laminated composites with complex structures. Proper resonant frequency and stronger ME effect can be obtained by optimizing the structure.