Room temperature multiferroic effects in superlattice nanocapacitors

A composite nanocapacitor was fabricated based on ferroelectric PbZr0.52Ti0.48O3( PZT) and half-metallic oxide La0.67Sr0.33MnO3(LSMO) with 5 nm/l nm periodicity, respectively. X-ray theta-2 theta scan and Phi-scan revealed epitaxial growth of nanocapacitors. At room temperature, a microscopic polarization of 11 mu C/cm(2) and magnetization of 50 emu/cm(3) were measured for superlattice nanocapacitors. Local piezo force microscopy measurements revealed switching of polarization under external bias field confirming ferroelectric behavior. Zero field cooling measurements showed the existence of cusp in magnetization at low temperatures indicating spin-glass-like behavior contrary to Pb( ZrxTi1-x)O-3 /LaxSr1-xMnO3 bilayer structure. Frequency dependent dielectric anomaly was observed near room temperature suggesting dynamic magneto (resistance)-dielectric coupling. (C) 2010 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3528210]