Modeling the functional role of graphene nanoplatelets in the coupled properties of magnetoelectric cobalt ferrite/barium titanate polymer-matrix composites

초록

This study introduces a micromechanical modeling framework for the design of robust magnetoelectric systems, in which graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) are incorporated to enhance mechanical integrity while preserving coupled magnetoelectric functionalities. The proposed methodology employs a two-stage homogenization approach. Initially, the morphology-centric computational simulation is employed to predict the mechanical properties of GNP/polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) nanocomposites, with explicit consideration of GNP content, platelet thickness, dispersion states (aligned, random, moderately agglomerated), and GNP/PDMS interphase effects. Next, the Mori-Tanaka method is employed to predict the full spectrum of coupled electro-magneto-mechanical properties of a four-phase magnetoelectric system, formed through the simultaneous incorporation of piezomagnetic cobalt ferrite (CoFe2O4) and piezoelectric barium titanate (BaTiO3) microparticles into the GNP/PDMS nanocomposite matrix. The results revealed that even a slight increase in GNP content, combined with a reduction in platelet thickness, can enhance electro-magneto-mechanical properties of the composite. Among the diverse dispersion states, the aligned orientation of GNPs yields the most substantial enhancement in performance; conversely, the emergence of GNP clusters acts as a detrimental factor, significantly impairing the overall functionality. Moreover, exploring the influence of interphase development reveals it to be a critical determinant in the overall multifunctional performance of the system. Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.

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