Modulation of magnetic coercivity in Ni thin films by reversible control of strain

In this study, we demonstrated the magnetoelectric control of magnetic thin films. (111)-textured Pd/Ni/ Pd thin films were prepared on mica/lead zirconium titanate (PZT) substrates for the investigation. The reversible modulation of magnetic coercivity in Ni films was observed through the electric-voltagecontrolled strain variation from the PZT substrate. For 14 nm Ni film, the applied electric field of 7350 V/ m led to 70.5% strain variation of PZT, which was transferred to 70.4% strain variation of Pd/Ni/Pd thin films on mica, and resulted in ∓17 Oe (∓5% of the preliminary magnetic coercivity). The reversible modulation of magnetic coercivity is supposed to be caused by the voltage-controlled strain through the magneto-elastic effect. & 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.