Electrically Driven Magnetization Reorientation at the Fe/PbTiO3 Interface

Abstract

Employing first-principles electronic structure calculations, we investigate the thermodynamic stability, magnetization, and magnetic anisotropy energy (MAE) at the interface between the ultrathin Fe(001) and PbTiO3(001) (PTO) layers. Herein we demonstrate the ferroelectric polarization driven magnetization reorientation at the Fe/PTO interface. Changes in energy levels of the strong spin–orbit coupled Fe 3d and Pb 6p orbital states under the reversible ferroelectric polarization of Ti displacement are responsible for the magnetization reorientation at the Fe/PTO interface. Furthermore, we reveal that magnetization reversal persists for Fe-film thicknesses of >1 nm and even under a practically achievable strain of 1%. The present study provides a viable route for achieving the electric-field-only manipulation of magnetization switching in magnetoelectric spintronics.