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Self-assembled vertical heterostructure with a high interface-to-volume ratio offers tremendous opportunities to realize intriguing properties and advanced modulation of functionalities. Here, a heterostructure composed of two visible-light photocatalysts, BiFeO3 (BFO) and ε-Fe2O3 ( ε-FO), is designed to investigate its photoelectrochemical performance. The structural characterization of the BFO-FO heterostructures confirms the phase separation with BFO nanopillars embedded in the ε-FO matrix. The investigation of band structure of the heterojunction suggests the assistance of photoexcited carrier separation, leading to an enhanced photoelectrochemical performance. The insights into the charge separation are further revealed by means of ultrafast dynamics and electrochemical impedance spectroscopies. This work shows a delicate design of the self-assembled vertical heteroepitaxy by taking advantage of the intimate contact between two phases that can lead to a tunable charge interaction, providing a new configuration for the optimization of photoelectrochemical cell. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We grow perpendicular L10-FePt films epitaxially on (001)[Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)]0.7-(PbTiO3)0.3 ferroelectric substrates. Due to the magnetostriction effect, the out-of-plane coercivity (Hc⊥) of the L10-FePt varies with applied electric fields, showing an asymmetric butterfly-like loop. The Hc⊥ at the zero-electric-field state (Hc⊥,0) shows a nonvolatile change, depending on the direction of the poling electric field. The magnitude of nonvolatile magnetic anisotropy change, induced by the ferroelectric field effect, can be comparable to the anisotropy change induced by pure electric fields. The nonvolatile magnetic anisotropy change is inversely proportional to the FePt thickness and can be eliminated by inserting a metallic intermediate layer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]