The ability to manipulate the magnetism on interfacing ferromagnetic and ferroelectric materials via electric fields to achieve an emergent multiferroic response has enormous potential for nanoscale devices with novel functionalities. Herein, a strong electric-field control of the magnetism modulation is reported for a single-crystal $\mathrm{Co}(14\mathrm{nm})/(001)\mathrm{Pb}{({\mathrm{Mg}}_{1/3}{\mathrm{Nb}}_{2/3})}_{0.7}{\mathrm{Ti}}_{0.3}{\mathrm{O}}_3$ (PMN-PT) heterostructure by fabricating an epitaxial Co layer on a PMN-PT substrate. Electric-field-tuned ferromagnetic resonance exhibits a large resonance field shift, with a 120-Oe difference between that under positive and negative remanent polarizations, which demonstrates nonvolatile electric-field control of the magnetism. Further, considering the complexity of the twofold symmetry magnetic anisotropy, the linear change of the fourfold symmetry magnetic anisotropy, relating to the single-crystal cubic magnetocrystal anisotropy of the Co thin film, is resolved and quantified to exert a magnon-driven, strong direct magnetoelectric effect on the $\mathrm{Co}/\mathrm{PMN}\text{−}\mathrm{PT}$ interface. These results are promising for future multiferroic devices.

• Received 19 July 2017
• Revised 17 October 2017

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevApplied.9.014006