Nonvolatile Modulation Effects of Electric Field on the Magnetic and Electric Properties in La–Ca–MnO3/PMN-PT Heterostructures

We demonstrate that ferroelectric (FE) domain switching induces a nonvolatile tuning of the magnetic and electric properties in La
_0.6
Ca
_0.4
MnO
₃
(LCMO)/Pb(Mg
_1/3
Nb
_2/3
)O
₃
-PbTiO
₃
heterostructure. The FE domain switching in the substrate contributes to an in-plane strain that changes the spin exchange coupling in the LCMO layer, and therefore results in a nonvolatile magnetization difference of up to -17.5% at zero external magnetic field, as well as a nonvolatile resistance difference of up to 20.3%. This nonvolatility of the modulation effect on the magnetic and electric properties by an electric field demonstrates great potential for the applications of magnetic and electric devices.