Strong magnetoelectric coupling in highly oriented ZnO films deposited on Metglas substrates

We have studied the magnetoelectric coupling in ZnO films deposited on Metglas substrates. Highly c-axis oriented ZnO films were successfully deposited using pulsed laser deposition at a low temperature of 300 °C. High quality films with low surface roughness of 2.82 nm and thicknesses of about 2 μm were obtained. A large converse magnetoelectric coef- ficient of 3 × 10–6 s/m and a direct magnetoelectric coefficient of 47 mV/cm Oe at a low dc bias field of 17 Oe and frequency of 1 kHz were obtained by dynamic converse and direct magnetoelectric measurements, respectively. Our results demonstrate a significant magnetoelectric coupling in these layers. (© 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)