Electrical-field tuned magnetic anisotropy in the FeSiBC/PMN-PT heterostructures with different history of induced uniaxial anisotropy

Abstract Multiferroic heterostructures of FeSiBC/[Pb(Mg 1/3 Nb 2/3 )O 3 ] 0.71 -[PbTiO 3 ] 0.29 (011)(PMN-PT) have been prepared by an oblique sputtering method. It is shown that both the electrical field tuned remanence ratio and magnetic anisotropy depends on the history of induced uniaxial anisotropy. The FeSiBC/PMN-PT deposited by oblique sputtering displays a loop-like M r / M s response upon varying the applied electrical field, however, the same heterostructure fabricated by oblique sputtering with an in-situ magnetic bias field shows a butterfly-like M r / M s -E curve. The different converse magnetoelectric responses were traced back to the surface topography and microstructure of the FeSiBC films, which have reverse impact on the piezoelectric strain of bottom PMN-PT substrate. This reverse research can help us gain more understanding about the magnetoelectric effect in another aspect.