Electrical Field-Induced Magnetization Switching in CoFe/NiFe/PZT Multiferroics

In this paper, we have investigated the change in magnetization of multiferroic material, based on magnetic nanostructured CoFe/NiFe film grown on the piezoelectric lead zirconate titanate (PZT), under the effect of the strain originated from PZT layer. In this material, a converse magnetoelectric effect and especially, an electric field-induced magnetic anisotropy and magnetization switching process have been observed at the changing stages of applied electric voltage. In addition, a significant relative change in magnetization, above 100%, is obtained, which facilitates practical applications of the materials. This opens possibilities in achieving new types of memory devices, the low energy consumption devices, as well as other functionalities, such as voltage-tunable field sensing. A simple theory based on strain-mediated magnetic-electric coupling is also presented to understand the origin of the change in magnetic properties of the materials.