The challenge in realizing an exchange coupled BiFeO3-double perovskite bilayer

Abstract

In this work we propose a device design for efficient voltage control of magnetism. The magnetization of a ferrimagnetic double perovskite may be manipulated by an exchange coupled layer of multiferroic BiFeO3. Bilayers of Barium doped BiFeO3 and ferrimagnetic double perovskite Sr2FeMoO6 have been prepared by pulsed laser deposition motivated by the possibility of strong interlayer exchange coupling. While single layers of each material show high quality we observe that in both stacking orders the first layer decomposes during the deposition of the second layer. The reason for the decomposition are strongly differing growth conditions for BiFeO3 and Sr2FeMoO6. This means that the generation of artificial multiferroic stacks requires careful choice of the constituent materials to ensure the bilayer stability.