Hydrothermal temperature effect on magnetoelectric coupling of Ni/Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3 bilayers

Magnetoelectric (ME) Ni/Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3 bilayers have been prepared by hydrothermal method. The structure and ferroelectric properties of the Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3 (PZT) thin films prepared at various hydrothermal temperatures are characterized by X-ray diffraction and ferroelectric testing. With the hydrothermal temperature increasing the grain size of the PZT thin films gradually decreases leading to a gradual increase of the coercive field and a decrease of the remnant polarization of the Ni/PZT bilayers. The ME voltage coefficient of the Ni/PZT bilayers gradually decreases as hydrothermal temperature increases. The large ME coefficient makes these Ni/PZT bilayers possible for applications in multifunctional devices such as electromagnetic sensor, transducers and microwave devices.

► The hydrothermal temperature affects the grain size of the Pb(ZrTi)O3 thin films. ► The magnetoelectric (ME) voltage coefficient decreases with hydrothermal temperature. ► The bilayers prepared at lower hydrothermal temperature displays better ME effect.