\textit{In Situ} Electrical Biasing Studies of Magnetoelectric Coupling in La$_{1-x}$Sr$_{x}$MnO$_{3}$-PbZr$_{x}$Ti$_{1-x}$O$_{3}$ Thin Film Oxide Heterostructures

ORAL

Abstract

Thin film La$_{1-x}$Sr$_{x}$MnO$_{3}$ (LSMO) -- PbZr$_{x}$Ti$_{1-x}$O$_{3}$ (PZT) magnetoelectric heterostructures possess desirable properties for a range of spintronic applications, but a poor understanding of interfacial coupling dynamics has made them difficult to implement. Here we present a series of magnetization studies utilizing direct \textit{in situ} electrical biasing and switching of PZT polarization. We show that a piezoelectric strain effect gives rise to significant changes in the bulk saturation magnetization of LSMO. We complement these measurements with novel \textit{in situ} polarized neutron reflectometry measurements that reveal the spatial extent of induced magnetization. We then correlate these magnetic measurements with local structural and chemical probes to elucidate a structural basis for the observed magnetic properties. From these results we suggest ways to tune coupling for a particular application and we also propose ways to extend these techniques to other composites.

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Authors

  • Steven Spurgeon

    Drexel University, Department of Materials Science and Engineering

  • Ian McDonald

    Northeastern University, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

  • Esther Huang

    University of New South Wales, School of Materials Science and Engineering

  • Rama Vasudevan

    University of New South Wales, School of Materials Science and Engineering

  • Samuel Lofland

    Rowan University, Rowan University, Department of Physics and Astronomy

  • Brian Kirby

    National Institute of Standards and Technology, National Institute for Standard Technology, NIST, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Center for Neutron Research

  • Nagarajan Valanoor

    University of New South Wales, School of Materials Science and Engineering

  • Mitra Taheri

    Drexel University, Department of Materials Science and Engineering