Consequences of magnetoelectric interactions on ferroelectric domain structures

The standard lift mode of electrostatic force microscopy (EFM) has been utilized to study the influence of magnetoelectric (ME) effect on ferroelectric domain structures in a YIG-PZT bilayer. A PZT disk of thickness=250$\mu $m was bonded on to a (111) single crystal YIG on GGG substrates. Randomly oriented domains of PZT are observed in the absence of a dc magnetic filed H. The domains are transformed into a columnar structure when H= 120 Oe is applied to the bilayer. The H-induced changes are mediated by mechanical forces; when a magnetic field is applied to the layered composite, the magnetostriction exerts a stress on PZT, resulting in an induced electric polarization and changes in the domain structure.