Large Interfacial Magnetostriction in (Co/Ni) 4 /Pb(Mg 1/3 Nb 2/3 )O 3 -PbTiO 3 Multiferroic Heterostructures

The magnetoelastic behavior of multiferroic heterostructures-coupling of magnetic anisotropy or domain dynamics to structural deformations-has been intensively studied for developing materials for energy-efficient, spin-based applications. Here, we report on a large, interface-dominated magnetostriction in (Co/Ni) /Pb(Mg Nb )O -PbTiO multiferroic heterostructures. Ferromagnetic resonance spectroscopy under voltage-induced strains enabled estimation of the saturation magnetostriction as a function of Ni thickness. The volume and the interface components to the saturation magnetostriction are (6.6 ± 0.9) × 10 and (-2.2 ± 0.2) × 10 m, respectively. Similar to perpendicular magnetic anisotropy in Co/Ni, the large, negative magnetostriction originates from the Co/Ni interfaces. This interfacial functionality delivers an effect over 300% larger than the bulk contribution and can enable low-energy, nanoelectronic devices that combine the tunable magnetic and magnetostrictive properties of Co/Ni multilayers with the ferroelectric properties of Pb(Mg Nb )O -PbTiO .