Converse magnetoelectric effect in ferromagnetic shape memory alloy/piezoelectric laminate

In laminates, the converse magnetoelectric (CME) effect is often achieved by an elastic coupling between magnetostrictive and piezoelectric layers. Here the authors report on an alternative mechanism for obtaining CME. In a transition-metals-based ferromagnetic shape memory alloy/piezoelectric ceramic laminated composite, the stress-induced martensitic transformation is utilized to gain the magnetic changes, which gives rise to a giant CME effect consequently. The strong CME is observed at room temperature over a broad bandwidth, under weak magnetic bias and electric field.