Tailoring of ferromagnetic Pr0.85Ca0.15MnO3/ferroelectric Ba0.6Sr0.4TiO3 superlattices for multiferroic properties

TL;DR

This study fabricates and analyzes ferromagnetic/ferroelectric superlattices demonstrating coexistence of magnetic and electric transitions, with significant magnetoresistance indicating strong magnetoelectric coupling.

Contribution

It introduces a novel superlattice structure combining ferromagnetic and ferroelectric layers with tailored thicknesses to enhance multiferroic properties.

Findings

Superlattices exhibit both ferromagnetic and ferroelectric transitions.

Enhanced magnetoresistance of 40% at 80K observed.

Unique properties emerge with increased ferroelectric layer thickness.

Abstract

Superlattices composed of ferromagnetic Pr0.85Ca0.15MnO3 and ferroelectric Ba0.6Sr0.4TiO3 layers were fabricated on (100) SrTiO3 substrates by a pulsed-laser deposition method. The capacitance and resistive parts of the samples were analyzed from the complex impedance measurements, performed on the samples using a special experimental set-up. The superlattice with larger ferroelectric thickness shows unique characteristics which are not present in the parent ferromagnetic thin film. The superlattice show both ferromagnetic and ferroelectric transitions which is an evidence for the coexistence of both the properties. The high magnetoresistance (40 % at 80K) shown by the superlattice can be attributed to the coupling between ferromagnetic and ferroelectric layers, i.e, to the magnetoelectric effect.