Snapping Endows Magnetoelectric Metamaterials with Passive Power-up Conversion

Abstract

Harnessing slowly varying or quasi-static magnetic fields, which typically lack the power to light an LED, to power devices with higher demands seems to be impossible if no additional power is supplied. Obviously, the key to overcoming this challenge is to achieve passive power conversion from low-power inputs into high-power outputs. Here, we propose that snap-through buckling─a mechanical instability phenomenon─within a magnetoelectric metamaterial enables passive power-up conversion. Our experimental results indicate that the instantaneous pulsed output power at snapping remains stable even as the frequency decreases by 100 times and exceeds the maximum magnetic input power by 27 times at a low working frequency of 0.01 Hz. Furthermore, for an array of magnetoelectric metamaterials with varying critical magnetic fields, we demonstrate that a series of pulsed outputs can result in continuous electrical output. We anticipate that these findings will open new avenues for advanced energy conversion technologies, underscoring a pioneering application of mechanical principles in materials science.