Perpendicular magnetic anisotropy modulated by interfacial magnetoelectric coupling in Fe4N/0.75Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-0.25PbTiO3 multiferroic heterostructures

Electric-field-controlled magnetic anisotropy in ferromagnetic/PMN-PT multiferroic heterostructure attracts great interest due to its promising application for energy-efficient information storage. Herewith, we investigate the effect of ferroelectric polarization and interfacial oxidation on magnetic anisotropy in Fe4N/PMN-PT multiferroic heterostructure using first-principles calculations. The reversal of ferroelectric polarization produces a sizable increase in the perpendicular magnetic anisotropy of Fe4N/PMN-PT heterostructures while the interfacial oxidation changes the sign of the magnetic anisotropy. The modulation of magnetic anisotropy in Fe4N/PMN-PT heterostructure is attributed to the spin-orbit-coupled Pb p states induced by the magnetoelectric coupling effect. These results lay the foundation for realizing electric-field control of perpendicular magnetic anisotropy in multiferroic heterostructures.