Voltage-driven hysteretic changes in magnetization in multiferroic Co/BTO composite thin films

Multiferroic Co/BaTiO3 layered composite thin films were grown on Nb-doped SrTiO3 single crystal by pulse laser deposition, in which the polycrystalline Co film was annealed under magnetic field to induce in-plane uniaxial magnetic easy axis. Voltage-induced magnetization changes along and perpendicular to the easy axis were measured by Magneto-Optical Kerr effect (MOKE) magnetometer without applied magnetic field. These changes in magnetization could be due to magnetoelectric coupling between Co and BaTiO3, and to possibly electro-optical effect of BTO if the MOKE laser could penetrate the top Co film. After excluding the electro-optical interference by analyzing the experimental results within an optical model, a hysteric loop of magnetization versus voltage is identified with a relative change in magnetization of about 8%.