Exchange bias effect modulated anisotropic magnetoresistance in Fe/YMnO3 multiferroic bilayers

•Multiferroic bilayers of Fe/YMnO3 were prepared by magnetron sputtering.•An exchange bias effect was discovered in these multiferroic bilayers.•The exchange bias effect lead to phase shift and asymmetry of AMR curves.•We report an exchange bias effect mediated AMR properties.

The effects of the interfacial coupling on the magnetic and magnetotransport properties of Fe/YMnO3 multiferroic bilayers were investigated through the dependence of exchange bias effect on the ferromagnetic layer thickness and temperature. A transition of anisotropic magnetoresistance (AMR) behaviors from a heart-shape-like to a sin2(φa)sin2(φa) dependence was acquired by mediating the competition between external magnetic field and exchange bias field. Furthermore, the exchange bias field produces a torque with opposite effect during the clockwise and anticlockwise rotation process of the external magnetic field, which leads to a phase shift and asymmetry of AMR curves. Our work shows an effective way of controlling the magnetotransport properties by interfacial coupling effect in ferromagnet/multiferroic systems.