\textit{In Situ} Electrical Biasing Studies of Magnetoelectric Coupling in La$_{1-x}$Sr$_{x}$MnO$_{3}$-PbZr$_{x}$Ti$_{1-x}$O$_{3}$ Thin Film Oxide Heterostructures

ORAL

Abstract

Thin film La$_{1-x}$Sr$_{x}$MnO$_{3}$ (LSMO) -- PbZr$_{x}$Ti$_{1-x}$O$_{3}$ (PZT) magnetoelectric heterostructures possess desirable properties for a range of spintronic applications, but a poor understanding of interfacial coupling dynamics has made them difficult to implement. Here we present a series of magnetization studies utilizing direct \textit{in situ} electrical biasing and switching of PZT polarization. We show that a piezoelectric strain effect gives rise to significant changes in the bulk saturation magnetization of LSMO. We complement these measurements with novel \textit{in situ} polarized neutron reflectometry measurements that reveal the spatial extent of induced magnetization. We then correlate these magnetic measurements with local structural and chemical probes to elucidate a structural basis for the observed magnetic properties. From these results we suggest ways to tune coupling for a particular application and we also propose ways to extend these techniques to other composites.

Authors

  • Steven Spurgeon

    • Drexel University, Department of Materials Science and Engineering
  • Ian McDonald

    • Northeastern University, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Esther Huang

    • University of New South Wales, School of Materials Science and Engineering
  • Rama Vasudevan

    • University of New South Wales, School of Materials Science and Engineering
  • Samuel Lofland

    • Rowan University
    • Rowan University, Department of Physics and Astronomy
  • Brian Kirby

    • National Institute of Standards and Technology
    • National Institute for Standard Technology
    • NIST
    • National Institute of Standards and Technology, Center for Neutron Research
  • Nagarajan Valanoor

    • University of New South Wales, School of Materials Science and Engineering
  • Mitra Taheri

    • Drexel University, Department of Materials Science and Engineering