Magnetoelectric Vertically Aligned Nanocomposite of YFeO3 and CoFe2O4

Self-assembled two-phase vertically aligned nanocomposites consisting of ferromagnetic pillars embedded in a ferroelectric matrix provide an attractive geometry for observing magnetoelectric coupling based on the strain-coupled magnetostrictive and piezoelectric effects at the interfaces. In perovskite-spinel nanocomposites the ferroelectric phase typically consists of BiFeO3, BaTiO3 or Pb(Zr,Ti)O-3. Here, the ferroelectric phase is Y-rich YFeO3 which exhibits ferroelectricity originating from the local inversion symmetry breaking caused by Y-Fe antisite defects. Coherent interfaces observed between Y-rich YFeO3 and a magnetic spinel CoFe2O4 in a vertically aligned nanocomposite enable strain-mediated magnetoelectric coupling at room temperature, confirming the ferroelectricity and piezoelectricity in Y-rich YFeO3 and extending the range of magnetoelectric nanocomposite compositions.

Automated summary

Researchers have successfully observed the self-assembled vertically aligned nanocomposites consisting of ferromagnetic pillars embedded in a ferroelectric matrix, and found that strain-mediated magnetoelectric coupling effect exists in this structure, which provides a new geometric configuration for studying magnetoelectric coupling based on strain-coupled magnetostrictive and piezoelectric effects.