Electric field controlled magnetic hysteresis loops in a Metglas®/PMN–PT heterostructure

An electric field tunable magnetic hysteresis loop was studied in a multiferroic heterostructure consisting of a 25μm thick Metglas® ribbon affixed to a lead magnesium niobate–lead titanate (PMN–PT) crystal. This multiferroic heterostructure exhibits a considerably strong converse magnetoelectric effect, CME = −80%, where CME = [M(E)−M(0)]/M(0), and a converse magnetoelectric coupling constant, A = 23 Oe cm kV−1, in the vicinity of the saturation electric polarization. This work systematically demonstrates the tunability of magnetic parameters including magnetization, coercivity, remanence and squareness, under the application of an electric field of 0–8 kV cm−1. Additionally, the physical mechanism of the CME is discussed. These results provide useful resources for the design of a new generation of electrically controlled devices. (Some figures in this article are in colour only in the electronic version)