Tunable layered composites based on magnetoactive elastomers and piezopolymer for sensors and energy harvesting devices

The novel layered structures comprising piezoelectric polymer and magnetoactive elastomer (MAE) were developed and investigated. The influence of iron particles content in the elastomeric layer, its thickness and Young's modulus of silicone on the multiferroic properties of the structures were analyzed. The investigation included the experimental and numerical characterization of the magnetoelectric effect. The giant values of bending deformations of MAEs in the external gradient magnetic field led to giant values of induced voltage (up to nearly 650 mV) in the composite. The displacement of ferromagnetic particles inside the elastomeric matrix under gradient magnetic field became the main basis for numerical modelling. The molecular dynamic method, 'virtual springs' method and Verlet algorithm were used to obtain the results of the numerical experiment. The energy transformation and magnetic field response in the novel composite allow it to be used in sensors and energy-harvesting devices. (paper)