Temperature dependence of the magnetoelectric effect in $Pb(Zr0.2Ti0.8)O3/La0.8Sr0.2MnO3$ multiferroic heterostructures

The magnetoelectric response of $Pb(Zr0.2Ti0.8)O3/La0.8Sr0.2MnO3$ (PZT/LSMO) artificial multiferroic heterostructures as a function of temperature, electric, and magnetic field, shows that the largest magnetoelectric coupling is attained at temperatures near the magnetic critical point of LSMO, at $∼180K$ $(−13.5OecmkV−1)$⁠. The magnetoelectric coupling displays a strong temperature dependence, changing sign at 150 K and saturating to positive values below $∼100K$ $(+6OecmkV−1)$⁠. The magnetoelectric curve switches hysteretically between two states in response to the ferroelectric switching. The peak in the magnetoelectric response coincides with the observation of on/off switching of magnetism in LSMO near the critical region, where the sensitivity to electric field is largest, making it a promising approach for device applications.