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

Abstract 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)