Film size-dependent voltage-modulated magnetism in multiferroic heterostructures

Abstract

The electric-voltage-modulated magnetism in multiferroic heterostructures, also known as the converse magnetoelectric (ME) coupling, has drawn increasing research interest recently owing to its great potential applications in future low-power, high-speed electronic and/or spintronic devices, such as magnetic memory and computer logic. In this article, based on combined theoretical analysis and experimental demonstration, we investigate the film size dependence of such converse ME coupling in multiferroic magnetic/ferroelectric heterostructures, as well as exploring the interaction between two relating coupling mechanisms that are the interfacial strain and possibly the charge effects. We also briefly discuss some issues for the next step and describe new device prototypes that can be enabled by this technology.

Strain-mediated voltage control of magnetism in multiferroic Ni77Fe23/Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)0.7Ti0.3O3 heterostructure

“…36 Our results underscore almost inevitable importance of strain-mediated mechanism to voltage-control of magnetism, though other mechanisms mentioned above can also play an important role depending on the specific size and/or material systems of the heterostructures. 37,38 The schematic of the NiFe/PMN-PT heterostructure with the voltage-modified AMR setup is shown in Fig. 1(a).…”

Effect of strain on voltage-controlled magnetism in BiFeO3-based heterostructures

“…Voltage-controlled magnetism in magnetic/BiFeO 3 heterostructures is a complex process with multiple underlying mechanisms, depending on the size of such heterostructures 27 . In the present article, our focus has been put on the effects of both ferroelastic strains and DM exchange interaction in the CoFe/BiFeO 3 heterostructures currently investigated.…”

Multiferroic Heterostructures Integrating Ferroelectric and Magnetic Materials

“…For a multiferroic heterostructure with the coexistence of more than two mechanisms across the interface, the weight of an individual mechanism could be strongly dependent on the thickness of the magnetic films. Earlier studies on the thickness‐dependent interaction between strain‐mediated and charge‐mediated mechanisms can be found in a brief review . Recently, the strain and charge co‐mediated magnetoelectric coupling has been experimentally demonstrated in various multiferroic heterostructures, e.g., a Fe 0.5 Rh 0.5 film, a L1 0 ‐ordered FePt film, a Ni 0.79 Fe 0.21 film, a Mn‐doped ZnO film, or a Fe film epitaxially grown on PMN‐PT.…”

“…In particular, new types of magnetoelectric effects have recently been discovered in multiferroic heterostructures and implemented in several laboratory device prototypes. The historical development of multiferroic heterostructures of different phase connectivity has been summarized in earlier review articles . Here, we will mainly focus on the most recent progress in the fundamental understanding and potential applications of both the converse (Section and ) and direct (Section ) magnetoelectric effects in multiferroic heterostructures.…”