Enhanced Reception and Transmission Performance of Magnetoelectric Antennas With the Optimal Volume Fraction of Nanocrystals

Different volume fractions of nanocrystals were induced in Metglas (FeSiB) of magnetoelectric (ME) antennas by isothermal heat treatment. When the volume fraction is 3.3%, the initial permeability and maximum piezomagnetic coefficient of the Metglas increase by 46% and 68%, respectively, compared with the pristine Metglas. The ME coupling coefficient (
$\alpha _{\text {ME}}$
) of ME antenna at the resonance frequency and 1 kHz is 19890 and 1455 V/cm
$\cdot $
Oe, respectively (216% and 197% higher than that of the pristine antenna). The ME antenna shows both enhanced reception and transmission performance. The direct detection limit is 0.3 pT [one order better than the pristine antenna (3.2 pT)]. The transmitting intensity at 30 cm in the long axis direction is enhanced by 148%. This result shows that the optimal volume fraction of nanocrystals in magnetic layers is essential for the performance of ME antennas and ME devices.