Soft magnetostrictive materials: Enhanced magnetostriction of Fe‐based nanocrystalline alloys via Ga doping

Soft magnetostrictive materials, having a combination of high soft magnetic properties and substantial magnetostriction, are highly sought for a wide range of applications. Nonetheless, a trade‐off relationship exists between soft magnetic properties and magnetostriction in single‐phase crystalline alloys due to their inherent magnetocrystalline anisotropy. In this study, we introduce the soft magnetostrictive material based on conventional Fe‐based nanocrystalline soft magnetic alloys whose structure quenches magnetocrystalline anisotropy, infused with Ga. All the samples exhibited nanocrystallization behavior and solid‐solution α‐Fe(Ga) was precipitated as a nanocrystalline phase. The net magnetostriction increased with increasing Ga content, concurrently maintaining high magnetic sensitivity with or without Ga addition. As a consequence of this compatibility of properties, the Ga‐doped sample exhibited a magnetostriction susceptibility 1.77 times higher than that of the base alloy. The soft magnetostrictive materials proposed in this study are poised for potential deployment in vibration energy harvesters and strain sensors.