Low dimensional polymer-based magnetoelectric structures

The low dimensionality open a new roads of opportunities and challenges. At the nanoscale some materials present new interesting effects that should be studied and understood. The nanostructured materials present a great potential functionalities due the large surface to volume ratio when compared with the bulk. With the miniaturization of the ME materials size, applications on medical and biomedical engineering could be then explored. Different morphologies with different connectivities between the magnetostrictive and piezoelectric materials have been produced allowing the obtainment of innovative structures. In this chapter the low dimensionality of polymer based ME composites will be presented, challenges that need to be addressed in pursuing practical applications of ME devices will be discussed and promising future for research and technology in this field evaluated.Portuguese Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT) for financial support under projects PTDC/EEI-SII/5582/2014 and PTDC/CTM-ENE/5387/2014 and in the framework of the Strategic Funding UID/FIS/04650/2013. P. Martins and R. Gonçalves acknowledges also support from FCT (SFRH/BPD/96227/2013 and SFRH/BD/88397/2012 grants respectively). Financial support from the Basque Government Industry Department under the ELKARTEK Program is also acknowledged. SLM thanks the Diputación Foral de Bizkaia for financial support under the Bizkaia Talent program; European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme; Marie Curie Actions – People; Grant agreement nº 267230