Coaction and competition between the ferroelectric field effect and the strain effect in Pr₀.₅Ca₀.₅MnO₃ film/0.67Pb(Mg[sub 1/3]Nb[sub 2/3])O₃-0.33PbTiO₃ crystal heterostructures

Abstract

The coaction and competition between the ferroelectric field effect and the strain effect in Pr₀.₅Ca₀.₅MnO₃ (PCMO) film/0.67Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O₃-0.33PbTiO₃ crystal heterostructures were studied. Based on different types of resistance-electric field hysteresis loops at various temperatures, it is clearly identified that the strain effect dominates over the ferroelectric field effect for temperature T above the charge-ordering temperature T[sub CO] of PCMO. With the strong localization of charge carriers for T < T[sub CO], the ferroelectric field effect strongly competes with the strain effect and finally dominates over the latter for T < 0.8T[sub CO]. Moreover, the poling-induced strain effect is considerably enhanced by a magnetic field, demonstrating the important role of the phase separation in understanding the strain effect in such heterostructures.