Magnetoelectric magnetic field sensors

Aim: The aim of this thesis is to obtain a highly sensitive magnetoelectric (ME) sensor capable of detecting low magnetic fields. Materials and Methods: In this study, Vacodur 49 (Fe–Co–V; iron–cobalt–vanadium) alloy and a Ni–Fe–Co–Si–B–C-based amorphous ferromagnetic ribbon were used as magnetostrictive materials. The magnetostrictive material coded as Vacodur 49 was employed for the first time in the design of a magnetoelectric sensor within the scope of this study. PVDF and PZT were selected as piezoelectric layers, and the performances of the developed sensor structures under DC and AC magnetic fields were experimentally investigated. Results: It was determined that the sensor output voltage reached its maximum at a specific DC magnetic field value around the resonance frequency. It was also observed that the magnetoelectric voltage increased approximately linearly with increasing AC magnetic field amplitude. Conclusion: The obtained results demonstrate that the Vacodur 49–based magnetoelectric sensor design and the amorphous ferromagnetic ribbon–based sensor structure provide high sensitivity, being capable of detecting low magnetic field variations on the order of 0.3 nT for DC magnetic fields and 100 pT for AC magnetic fields, and thus make an original contribution to the literature. Keywords: Magnetoelectric sensor, Magnetostriction, PVDF, PZT, Resonance frequency, Vacodur 4