Manipulation of magnetic coercivity of Fe film in Fe/BaTiO3 heterostructure by electric field

The manipulation of magnetism at Fe/BaTiO3 interfaces is demonstrated via lattice distortion induced by thermal and electrical means. We find that the magnetic coercivity shows similar electric field dependence for positive and negative electric fields in the tetragonal phase of BaTiO3, whereas those in the orthorhombic and rhombohedral phases vary asymmetrically with respect to the polarity. The temperature dependent magnetization also reveals that the effect has its origin in the strong magnetoelastic coupling at the interface. The underlying mechanisms of the electric field dependence of the coercivity are discussed, associated with the different ferroelectric poling processes of BaTiO3. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3628464]