Dual magnetoelectric antenna array with enhanced bandwidth and sensitivity for low-frequency communications

The magnetoelectric coupling effect demonstrated immense potential for miniaturizing antenna applications. However, due to the resonant nature of magnetoelectric (ME) antennas, their bandwidth tended to be relatively narrow. To address this limitation, our study introduced an array design based on coupled ME antennas. A tri-layer FeGa–PZT8–FeGa laminate structure was employed to construct the ME antennas, which utilized inter-array coupling to broaden the frequency range. Both the central frequency and sensitivity of the array structure were theoretically analyzed, and two methods for extending the frequency were proposed. By coupling two ME antennas of similar frequency in the series mode, the arrayed ME antennas exhibited enhanced sensitivity, increasing from 0.225 and 0.247 to 0.413 mV/nT, and an expanded bandwidth from 0.92–1.03 to 1.4 kHz, indicating improved performance through combined configuration. On the other hand, by coupling two ME antennas of different frequencies together in the series mode, a dual-frequency (97.8/98.97 kHz) ME antenna array was formed. The communication capabilities of the ME antenna array under weak magnetic fields were demonstrated using amplitude shift keying and frequency shift keying modulation methods. The designed array of ME antennas elevated low-frequency communication performance and possessed excellent magnetic field detection capabilities, thereby offering a cost-effective technological pathway for bioelectronic and marine communication design.