Piezoelectric control of magnetic anisotropy in the Ni0.46Zn0.54Fe2O4/Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-PbTiO3 composite

A gate-controllable in-plane magnetic anisotropy with C-2v symmetry was observed in a Ni0.46Zn0.54Fe2O4/Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O-3-PbTiO3 heterostructure. Detailed amplitude analysis reveals a linearly electric modulation in anisotropy energy that arises from a strain-mediated magnetoelectric coupling across the interface. In particular, an electrically-driven rotational in-plane magnetic easy axis and anisotropic-isotropic transition in NiZn ferrite film, respectively, enable possibilities for magnetization control in multiferroic devices. (C) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC.