Local two-way magnetoelectric couplings in multiferroic composites via scanning probe microscopy

Local two-way magnetoelectric (ME) couplings of a multiferroic composite have been characterized at nanoscale using novel scanning probe microscopy techniques we developed. A bilayer multiferroic composite consisting of lead zirconate titanate (PZT) and TbDyFe (TDF) has been fabricated, and the evolution of ferroelectric domains in PZT induced by an external magnetic field is observed by piezoresponse force microscopy, while the evolution of magnetic domains in TDF induced by an external electric field is observed by magnetic force microscopy, confirming the two-way ME couplings in the multiferroic composite. The technique will be useful in characterizing nanoscale ME couplings in a wide range of multiferroic composites. (C) 2010 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3481459]