Self-biased magnetoelectric coupling effect in the layered La0.7Sr0.3MnO3/BaTiO3/La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 multiferroic heterostructure

Abstract The experimental observation and analysis of self-biased magnetoelectric (ME) coupling effect in the layered La 0.7 Sr 0.3 MnO 3 /BaTiO 3 /La 0.7 Sr 0.3 MnO 3 (LSMO/BTO/LSMO) multiferroic heterostructure were reported, and the epitaxial layered LSMO/BTO/LSMO heterostructure was grown on (001) oriented LaAlO 3 (LAO) single crystal substrate by using pulsed laser deposition technique. The microstructure, ferromagnetic and ferroelectric properties were studied. The exchange bias effect in the LSMO/LAO interface and the compressive strain gradient field in the heterostructure induced by lattice mismatch resulted in a built-in magnetic bias field ( H bias ) in the LSMO layer, which provided limited ME coupling effect at zero applied DC bias magnetic field. It may potentially be used to micro-nano devices especially for multiple state memories.