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Flexible multiferroic heterostructures are promising to unveil technological developments in wearable magnetic field sensing, nonvolatile memory, soft robotics, and portable energy harvesters. Here, we report an enhanced and a zero-biased magnetoelectric (ME) effect in flexible, cost-effective, and room temperature sensitive Ni/FSMA/PMN-PT magnetization-graded ME heterostructure. Flexible Ni foil with −q (piezomagnetic coefficient) and the ferromagnetic shape memory alloy (FSMA; Ni-Mn-In) layer with +q offers the desired q-grading. The temperature-dependent dielectric behavior shows an anomaly in the martensite transformation regime of the FSMA layer. The Ni/FSMA/PMN-PT ME heterostructure exhibits noteworthy ME output of ∼3.7 V/cm Oe, significantly higher than Ni/PMN-PT (∼1 V/cm Oe). The q-grading-induced bending moment impedes the asymmetry-related flexural strain and strengthens the ME interaction. The zero-bias ME output of ∼0.4 V/cm Oe is ascribed to the interaction between q-grading-induced transverse magnetization and AC magnetic field. Ni/Ni-Mn-In/PMN-PT ME heterostructure displays excellent magnetic field sensing parameters: correlation coefficient, sensitivity, inaccuracy, and hysteresis of 0.99916, ∼0.74 mV/Oe, 1.5% full-scale output (FSO), and 1.8% FSO, respectively. The reversible and repeatable nonvolatile switching of the ME coefficient obtained with positive and negative electric fields is useful for next-generation memory devices. The flexible ME heterostructure shows no degradation in performance up to 1500 bending cycles. Such Ni/FSMA/PMN-PT based ME heterostructures are propitious for multifunctional flexible magnetic field sensors and nonvolatile memory applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spin valve devices, consisting of a free magnetic layer, a spacer layer, and a pinned magnetic layer, are widely used in magnetic sensors and nonvolatile magnetic memories. However, even a slight bending deformation can affect the magnetization direction of the free magnetic layer, which will change the magnetoresistance signal of the devices. Therefore, it is a challenge to develop a flexible spin valve device with controllable performance. Here, an enhanced stress-invariance of the magnetization direction in amorphous CoFeB magnetic films on flexible polyimide substrates is achieved. The uniaxial anisotropy is induced by growing on the bent substrate under a magnetic field, which aligns more magnetic domains with easy axes along the direction perpendicular to the subsequently applied stress. Theoretical calculations indicate that pre-induced anisotropy with an easy axis perpendicular to the applied stress effectively resists the change in the magnetization direction during bending. These results are of importance for realizing better performance of flexible spin valve devices and the development of flexible spintronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This letter reports on higher orders of an advanced out-of-plane bending mode in aluminium-nitride (AlN)-actuated cantilever plates achieving the highest quality factors (Q-factor) of cantilever-based MEMS (micro electromechanical system) resonators in liquids up to now. Devices based on a 20 μm thick silicon cantilever were fabricated and characterised by optical and electrical measurements in air and in different liquids. Furthermore, finite element method eigenmode analyses were performed, showing an excellent agreement with the measured mode shape and the electrical characteristics. The highest Q-factor was achieved in deionised water with Q = 366, operated at the 10th order mode at a resonance frequency less than 4 MHz. This is the highest value ever measured in liquid media with a cantilever-based MEMS resonator up to now and exceeds the Q-factors of state of the art resonators in liquids in the given resonance frequency range by a factor of about 4. Furthermore, the strain related conductance peak of the multi roof tile-shaped modes is superior, showing great potential for further electrode design optimisation. Compared to common out-of-plane bending modes, this combination of most beneficial properties is unique, making this type of vibration mode the first choice for a large variety of resonator-based liquid-phase sensing applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multilayered oriented composites constituted from two materials of different thermal conductivities are shown to have the ability to direct thermal energy. The composites behave as effective media with anisotropic thermal conductivity. The guiding of the heat flux is shown experimentally with bending angle ranging from ~25° to the maximum possible value of ~45° (for the considered prototypical composites) with respect to a horizontal temperature gradient--in excellent accord with theoretical estimates and computational simulations. Such thermal metamaterials lay the basis for efficient manipulation of heat and for thermal elements, such as thermal concentrators and cloaks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simultaneous measurements of work function ([lowercase_phi_synonym]) and C 1s core level shift were employed to determine the change in electron affinity (χ) and band bending as a function of hole sheet density on H-terminated diamond for atmospheric and fullerene (C60F48) induced surface conductivity. Contrary to earlier investigations, it is shown that changes in work function do not reflect variations in the position of the surface Fermi level in response to surface transfer doping. Instead, with a transition from -0.96 to -0.33 eV, χ accounts for a significant amount of the change in [lowercase_phi_synonym] for hole densities between 5×108 and 4×1013 cm-2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Utilizing high-resolution electron microscopy and image simulation, it is demonstrated that some of the crystal lattices of Fe-doped CaCu3Ti4O12 are intrinsically bent at the nanometer scale. A comparison between experimentally obtained and simulated images indicates that the bending angle is of a few milliradians, which is remarkable in a brittle oxide. Despite such lattice distortion, much of the lattice strain induced by the distortion appears to be released at the domain walls where a number of misfit dislocations are present. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A method of stress control in microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) devices is presented that consists of creating counterbalancing structures to position stressed layers at the neutral plane of the device, eliminating the bending momentum acting on the device. Upon metallization, many MEMS elements such as silicon membranes show substantial bow under the stress developed as a result of the difference in the thermal expansion coefficients of a metal and silicon. The proposed membranes with the counterbalancing structures remain flat in the entire test temperature range (25–150 °C). The method gives material-independent solution to stress-induced curvature problems in a variety of ultrathin devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe photothermal operation of nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS) in ambient atmosphere. Using a tightly focused modulated laser source, we have actuated the out-of-plane flexural resonances of bilayered doubly clamped beams. The optically detected displacement profiles in these beams are consistent with a model where the absorbed laser power results in a local temperature rise and a subsequent thermally induced bending moment. The described technique allows probing and actuation of NEMS with exquisite spatial and temporal resolution. From a device perspective, the technique offers immense frequency tunability and may enable future NEMS that can be remotely accessed without electronic coupling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Determines bend strain characteristics of bismuth-lead-strontium-calcium- copper-oxygen/silver composite tapes. Preparation of monofilament and multifilament tapes; Increase in the irreversible strain limit for the onset of bend strain damage; Observation of irreversible damage in the form of microcracks and fracture of the superconductor filaments.

Photo-origami uses the dynamic control of the molecular architecture of a polymer by a combination of mechanical and non-contact optical stimuli to design and program spatially and temporally variable mechanical and optical fields into a material. The fields are essentially actuators, embedded in the material at molecular resolution, designed to enable controllable, sequenced, macroscopic bending and folding to create three-dimensional material structures. Here, we demonstrate, through a combination of theory, simulation-based design, synthesis, and experiment, the operative phenomena and capabilities of photo-origami that highlight its potential as a powerful, and potentially manufacturable, approach to create three-dimensional material structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Precipitation of nanocrystals in a Ni–P amorphous alloy film during application of a stress field has been investigated. Microsized cantilever-beam-type specimens were prepared from the film by focused-ion-beam machining and bending stress was applied to the specimen using a mechanical testing machine for microsized specimens. Transmission electron microscopy observation in the plane strain deformed region has revealed that the deformation induces the precipitation of nanocrystalline Ni particles, and a (111) plane of all crystalline particles is aligned parallel to the side surface of the specimen. This suggests that control of the nanocrystalline orientation in amorphous alloys would be possible using the application of a stress field. © 2001 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]