The magnetoelectric coupling effect of multiferroic fluids and their potential applications

Due to their unique magnetoelectric coupling effect, composite multiferroic materials have significant potential in multifunctional devices (especially magnetoelectric devices) and have already garnered considerable attention. To fulfil the application requirements, improving the magnetoelectric coupling effect at room temperature has grown up to be a primary area of research. In this paper, we present a novel composite multiferroic material system: multiferroic fluids. The fluids are created by dispersing multiferroic particles in an insulating base fluid, exhibiting a strong magnetoelectric coupling effect under external fields. We investigate the physical mechanism behind the magnetoelectric coupling effect, whereby the multiferroic particles arrange themselves into a structure resembling a chain when subjected to a magnetic or electric field. The clamping effect between these chains results in an induced polarization, which, in turn, displays the magnetoelectric coupling effect. It can be concluded that there are several factors that can influence the magnetoelectric coupling effect, such as the magnetic/electric phase, structure, particle size, molar ratio, fluid viscosity, and volume fraction, as well as external factors, such as magnetic/electric field strength. Based on their magnetoelectric and rheological properties, multiferroic fluids are believed to have potential applications such as magnetoelectric storage, sensors, photovoltaics, biomedicine, optical switches, and devices based on magnetorheological and electrorheological fluids. However, further research and exploration are required. Finally, we propose some challenging issues in multiferroic fluids that need to be addressed.