Electric modulation of magnetization at the BaTiO3/La0.67Sr0.33MnO3 interfaces

We report large (>10%) magnetization modulation by ferroelectric polarization reversal in the ferroelectric-ferromagnetic BaTiO3/La0.67Sr0.33MnO3 (BTO/LSMO) heterostructures. We find that the electrically induced change in magnetization is limited to the BTO/LSMO interface but extends about 3 nm deep into the LSMO layer-far beyond the expected screening length of metallic LSMO. It is suggested that this effect is due to a metal-insulator transition occurring at the BTO/LSMO interface as a result of electrostatic doping. (C) 2012 American Institute of Physics. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4726427]